Federal judges will decide fate of Mahoning Co. jail

CLEVELAND — Layoffs and cutbacks won’t occur at the Mahoning County jail unless or until a three-judge panel authorizes them, according to Paul J. Gains, county prosecutor.

City and county officials will try to work out an agreement concerning jail operations, and if they can do so, they’ll file a joint motion to modify the consent decree that now requires the jail be fully open and staffed, Gains added.

If an agreement can’t be worked out, the county will file the motion to reduce jail operations due to its budget constraints, and the panel of three federal judges overseeing the jail will have a hearing on it, he said.

Gains made his remarks after a nearly four-hour, closed-door meeting today between city and county officials and lawyers for inmates who won a lawsuit concerning jail crowding.

The meeting was in the chambers of U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster, who was attempting to facilitate such an agreement, and who will oversee a mediation session March 29, if necessary.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com