Mahoning County applies for fed grant to detect cellphone use in jail

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County commissioners passed a resolution this week in support of the county sheriff’s office’s application for a $19,600 U.S. Department of Justice grant that would pay for two electronic devices designed to detect cellular phones, either turned on or off, within the county jail.

Cellphones are banned within the jail to prevent inmates from using them to conduct illegal activities, explained Annemarie DeAscentis, county budget specialist. The sheriff’s office would make the 10 percent local share from its budget, which would add $1,960 to the above total.