State finds city jail facilities need an update
An assessment of Lakewood’s city jail performed by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s Bureau of Adult Detention found that the facility could use an update. The report, however, did not strongly suggest the need to build a brand new facility. (Read report .PDF)
Early last year Mayor Edward O. FitzGerald publicly acknowledged a serious interest in the possibility of constructing a new jail on Berea Rd. He felt such a facility could serve as revenue generator for the city. In addition to housing the city’s prisoners, it could also hold the lucrative low-risk overflow jail populations of neighboring communities.
Here are the findings and recommendations from the state’s assessment:
R1: Due to population reductions in the city and ultimately the jail, expansions efforts should be based upon future trends.Based upon data presented in this report, population declines are evident in the overall population of the City of Lakewood in addition to the jail. This trend is not unusual and should be taken into consideration before expansion efforts are initiated for jail expansion. Evaluation of court case filings has also shown a downward trend from CY2006 (8,625) to CY2007 (7,660) with a higher estimation in CY2008 (8,984). This information, coupled with the current economic climate, would tend to suggest a lower than expected need for jail beds for the city of Lakewood when compared to the overall population.
R2: Recent justice-related changes in Cuyahoga County have increased efficiencies to the extent that jail overpopulation issues have been mitigated.As a result of coordinated efforts within Cuyahoga County’s criminal justice system, jail populations continue to decline which has resulted in the increase of offenders accepted from local jurisdictions. There is a cost associated with housing offenders in the county jail for longer sentences, however, the majority of this is attributed to the limited 12-day classification of the current jail. A deeper analysis of the type of offenders being housed at other jurisdictions should be done to determine if diversion would be a better and less expensive option.
R3: There are limited space options when over-population occurs.High volumes of arrests result in operational stress due to the lack of beds or immediate release/transfer options. To alleviate this burden, options such as revised bond guidelines or jail case management agreements (emergency release measures) could be imposed.
R4: There is a need for modifications and updating in the housing area of the jail.
As this report indicates in the capital assessment section, there is a need to make alterations in the housing unit in addition to the need to provide a general update of the facilities. These improvements could result in a limited number of additional beds and improved management efficiencies in the jail area.
R5: The average length of stay for offenders is well below the allowable 12-day limit classification of the jail.
Assessment of the average length of stay by offenders reveals constant turnover, well below the 12-day limit that classifies the jail. Overall, this reflects positively on the expediency of the local justice system, yet creates a scenario that the jail is not being maximized for 12-day or under sentences.
Looking for trouble? Skyview Manor is the place to find it
Over the last month or so, Skyview Manor at 1510 Newman Ave. has drawn a growing amount of police attention. The apex of bad news for the East End apartment complex occurred in apt. 407 on November 11th at 10:40 p.m., when a female was arrested for disorderly conduct and felonious assault after stabbing a male.
One might assume things would calm down after an awful incident like that. It has not been so. Police were there eight times in the last week. At this rate, Ward 4 Councilperson Mary Louise Madigan may have to climb to the top of her tower and turn on the Batman spotlight.
11/25 – 1:49 a.m. Disturbance – noise
Apt. 309. Parties being loud and possible drug use. Resident advised of complaint.
11/25 – 2:41 a.m. Disturbance
Apt. 211. Male and female arguing. Male was sleeping and no one was in the apartment. Advised.
11/28 – 8:06 p.m. Disturbance
Apt. 207. Female wants to leave and male won’t let her. Parties advised. Female will stay and get some sleep.
11/28 – 4:19 p.m. Disturbance
A male called 911 and stated that he was trying to pack-up his belongings and his roommate kept touching his stuff and would not stop. Two ex-boyfriends not getting along. One is packing up his belongings and leaving.
11/28 – 4:59 p.m. Disturbance
Caller stated her 11-year-old son is being disrespectful by stomping around the apartment and yelling and screaming and she’s unable to control him. Verbal between mom and son.
11/28 – 6:25 p.m. Disturbance
States her child’s father is bothering her and she wants to leave with their daughter and go to a shelter. Female is not allowed per the courts to take her daughter and has to be supervised at all times. Spoke to both parties and the female seemed to be more of a problem than the male did.
Spoke with the county and the safety plan is no longer in effect. Mom can leave with the child if she wants. An attempt was made to have mom stay there with the child, but it’s unknown if she will. Both parties were advised to their case workers on Monday.
11/29 – 11:30 p.m. Disturbance
Apt. 408. Mother and daughter were fighting. Argument over rules. Both were advised
11/30 – 8:02 p.m. Disturbance
Check the welfare of a female in apt. 311. Her father is receiving texts from her stating her boyfriend is holding her against her will and that she needs help. He is not sure where she is, but told CPD she is somewhere in Lakewood. Listed address is the last one found for and her boyfriend.
Spoke with the female privately and she states there are no problems there. She states her father does not like her boyfriend. Checked her phone. There were no messages indicating what the father reported.
And speaking of Batman spotlights….
Lakewood’s Safety Director and Mayor Edward O. FitzGerald along with the city’s blockwatch groups are promoting a Light the Night campaign. Basically, they’re encouraging people to leave their porch lights on at night in an effort to discourage criminal activity.
It might not decrease the number of stolen cars (six in the last week — mostly around the Gold Coast), but could discourage a burglary (five in the last week) or two and make it more difficult to commit armed robbery (see below). It would be nice to see these blockwatch groups make greater demands on the city by insisting they post a regularly updated police blotter online. Crime prevention is half of the battle. It’s difficult for citizens to be proactive when they don’t really know what’s going on, although certain politicians clearly prefer it that way.
14547 Madison
11/25 – 10:11 p.m. – Robbery
Male states he was robbed about an hour ago in his apartment. States he believes he may have been set-up by a friend that was at this house. Friend went out to use his cellphone and a couple of minutes later after he came back three males in masks — two carrying guns — came into the apartment and took his and his friend’s cell phones and all of their money. Male states his friend knew he had over $1,000 in the apartment because he was going to use it for shopping this Friday. (The crime calendar has been updated.)
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