Lake Erie CI coping well with growing Ohio inmate population

Ohio's inmate population continues to grow, but the surge doesn’t seem to be adversely impacting the Management & Training Corporation-operated Lake Erie Correctional Institution, in Conneaut.

Warden Rich Gansheimer says there are no immediate plans to create additional inmate space.  "No expansion is planned at this point," he said. "We have the ability to expand, but that's a choice the (Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction) director will make."

Last month, the ODRC reported more than 50,000 people were locked up in Ohio's 32 prisons – the most ever in the state.  That total is expected to exceed 52,000 within a year's time.

Conneaut's prison had a rated capacity of 1,380 inmates when it opened in April 2000.  Today the prison holds 1,498 minimum- and medium security inmates, Gansheimer said.  "We're pretty much at full capacity."

The glut of inmates "creates some challenges," but staff has worked wonders to handle the overflow, Gansheimer said.  "I'm proud of everybody who works here. We're doing well. We've adjusted."

LaECI is one of only two privately-managed prisons in Ohio. Both operations are supervised by MTC.  The other is the North Coast Correctional Treatment Facility, just outside Cleveland in Grafton, Ohio.

(posted 12/10/07)

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