Butler County, OH – Sheriff Richard K. Jones is expected to publicly respond today at 2 p.m. during a Facebook Live broadcast after state lawmakers sent a sharply worded letter raising urgent concerns about conditions inside the Butler County Jail.
According to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Jones plans to address what the office described as an “ignorant letter” sent by members of the Ohio General Assembly regarding jail operations and the housing of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees.
The letter, dated Monday, January 6, was sent to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Director Annette Chambers-Smith and signed by State Reps. Christine Cockley and Mark Sigrist, along with State Sen. William DeMora. Lawmakers cited a July inspection and subsequent state reports documenting overcrowding, heating problems, and food service violations at the Butler County Jail.
According to the lawmakers, the facility was already above its recommended capacity during a summer inspection and has since continued accepting detainees. The letter states the jail was holding more than 1,000 inmates at the time of writing—nearly 300 above the state’s recommended limit.
The letter also raises concerns about ICE detainees allegedly being housed alongside the general inmate population, questioning whether proper classification and safeguards are being followed. Lawmakers warned that overcrowding combined with heating deficiencies during winter months could pose serious health and safety risks.
In their request, legislators urged ODRC to immediately increase inspection frequency, address heating system deficiencies, bring inmate populations into compliance within six months, and evaluate the state’s potential legal liability tied to jail conditions.
The sheriff’s office has not yet released a written response to the claims, directing the public instead to today’s scheduled livestream.
Residents can watch the Facebook Live broadcast on the Butler County Sheriff’s Office social media page.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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