Ohio lawmakers target prison watchdog panel before break

COLUMBUS (AP) — Prison-rights advocates are fighting a move to abolish the current structure of Ohio’s bipartisan legislative prison watchdog agency.

Lawmakers reconstituted the 40-year-old Correctional Institution Inspection Committee in committee Tuesday. The legislation heads to a likely Senate vote later today.

In an open letter to the Senate, executive director Joanna Saul asked for “a full and fair hearing” before the committee structure is replaced.

The amendment requires approval of four people to conduct a prison inspection and dictates a majority of committee members must be present at such reviews. Saul said getting busy lawmakers to attend inspections is difficult. Ohio law was changed in 2008 so they’re not required to attend inspections.

The proposal further removes a legal requirement that all 27 adult and three juvenile prisons be inspected biennially.