Ohio considers electrified fences for state prisons

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Ohio’s prisons chief says electrified fences are among the many options that officials are considering as they look for ways to boost security at state correctional facilities.

Officials also are considering drones, sensor-based systems, secondary fencing or nets as possible additional security measures to keep inmates in and contraband out, The Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum reported.

Director Gary Mohr of the Ohio Bureau of Prisons said the theory with the electrified fences would be that they would produce enough of a jolt to knock down someone trying to escape.

The secondary fencing or nets might help block outsiders from tossing contraband such as drugs or cellphones within the reach of inmates.

Mohr said it’s important for prison officials to work continually on new ideas for improving security to stay ahead of those trying to get around the rules.

In the past two years, inmates have escaped two Ohio prisons.

Prison officials determined that convicted Chardon school shooter T.J. Lane and two other inmates spent several months building a makeshift ladder that they used to get atop an administration building and escape from the Allen-Oakwood Correctional Institution in Lima in September.

They were caught within hours.

Last year, an inmate at the Mansfield Correctional Institution broke into a storage area and took three ladders that he used to escape over three 14-foot security fences.

He was arrested the next day after people in a store recognized and tackled him.