'Severe issues' at women's prison in Dayton includes inappropriate relationships, drug use

Associated Press

DAYTON, Ohio

A state women’s prison in Dayton has numerous problems, including inappropriate relationships between staff and inmates, the availability of prohibited substances and problems with mental health services, according to a new report.

Several staff members at the Dayton Correctional Institution have been fired or forced to resign, including the man in charge of investigating inappropriate relationships with inmates, according to the report by the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee. The departures stemmed from allegations of inappropriate contact with inmates, including sexual contact in some cases.

The rate of positive drug tests at Dayton Correctional — 1.5 percent of inmates tested — was higher than two other women’s prisons but below the average for all prisons, the report found.

Prisons spokeswoman JoEllen Smith told the Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/1FqmIFt) that the agency takes allegations of staff misconduct seriously.

“We have zero tolerance for staff misconduct and when wrongdoing is found, appropriate actions are taken, which can include removal,” she told the newspaper.

State Rep. Niraj Antani, a Dayton-area Republican, attended a February inspection of the prison and said it has “severe issues.”

“The Department of Rehabilitation and Correction needs to take a serious look at the facility, do their own investigation of the facility and then take corrective action,” Antani told the newspaper.

Dayton Correctional Institution has 900 inmates, 250 employees and an annual budget of $23 million.