Mahoning jail deal now goes to federal judges

YOUNGSTOWN — An agreement between the city and Mahoning County over boarding misdemeanor prisoners is awaiting ratification by a federal judicial panel.

The city’s three-member board of control approved a deal Friday to house city misdemeanor prisoners in the Mahoning County jail.

City council approved legislation Wednesday permitting the board — composed of the mayor, law director and finance director — to approve the agreement. County commissioners ratified it Feb. 7.

The agreement is needed to comply with a federal order to make the county jail system constitutional. Inmates won a federal lawsuit against the county two years ago regarding understaffing and overcrowding at the jail.

A three-member federal judicial panel overseeing the jail issue must ratify the city-county deal. City and county officials expect the agreement to satisfy the judges.