HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRISON BOARD MINUTES September 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY PRISON BOARD MINUTES
Franklin County Administration Building
September 9, 2025
Present:
John Flannery, Commissioner/Chairman Dean Horst, Commissioner
Bob Ziobrowski, Commissioner Hon. Shawn Meyers, President Judge
Harold Wissinger, Controller Ben Sites, Sheriff
Carrie Gray, County Administrator Doug Wilburne, Probation Chief
John Thierwechter, Asst County Administrator Heather Franzoni, Warden
Etta Rotz, Deputy Controller Ellen Eckert, Pre-Release Supervisor
Michelle Weller, FCJ Deputy Warden Jeffrey Scott, FCJ Deputy Warden
David Sunderland, FCJ Deputy Warden Valerie Jordan, Citizen
I. The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Flannery at 8:30 AM.
II. Public Comment
A. Valerie Jordan provided public comment regarding her thoughts concerning jail staffing
and the possibility of using solar panels.
III. Minutes for the August 2025 meetings were discussed.
A. Controller Wissinger moved to accept the minutes, Commissioner Horst seconded the
motion and the minutes were unanimously approved.
IV. Warden’s Report
A. There were 153 commitments and 151 discharges in August.
B. The average daily population was 285 with 236 males and it was 56 females
C. The recidivism rate for all commitments was 42%. The recidivism rate for only those committed on
new charges was 41%.
D. A snapshot look at the jail’s numbers on September 1, 2025 showed there were 115 sentenced and 163
unsentenced inmates. There were five inmates being held for other counties and two federal inmates.
There were six inmates on approved temporary absences to other facilities and 20 awaiting transport to
the state institution.
E. There was $701.88 in revenue from Room & Board fees and $3,283.76 collected from Central
Booking fees.
F. The average length of stay for those released in September was 51.3 days. The average length of stay
for the year was 53.5 days.
G. There were no inmates held in other county jails.
H. Five inmates from other agencies were housed at FCJ in August, for a total of $8,109.
I. PrimeCare’s medical report was presented. There were 1088 sick calls. There were 13 trips to the ER
and three hospital admissions for seven days. There were 694 mental health contacts. There were no
inmates at Torrance State Hospital and one awaiting transfer. There were two inmates on constant
observation. There were 67 in the Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) program. There were 150 on
the MH caseload and an additional 43 with SMI diagnoses. There were 24 commitments placed on
detox protocol. There were five pregnant inmates.
J. July’s expenditures and budget were discussed.
K. Sheriff Sites moved to accept the Warden’s report, Judge Meyers seconded the motion and the report
was unanimously approved.
V. Intermediate Punishment report
A. The Pre-Release department received 45 intakes in August and processed 50 discharges
B. There were six inmates placed into employment.
C. There were 1894 hours of community service completed.
D. The Drug and Alcohol RIP/DCIP program had 82 offenders. There were nine successful discharges in
August.
E. The Pre-Trial Supervision program had 64 offenders.
F. The Sex Offender Program had 45.
G. There were 32 offenders on the Mental Health caseload.
H. The Electronic Monitoring Program had six offenders.
I. There were 20 participants in the Good Wolf Treatment Court.
J. There were 16 offenders detained and there were 14 that were given alternative sanctions.
K. There were 138 daily jail bed days saved by using the alternative sanctions of electronic monitoring
(124 days), DCIP/D&A RIP (2110 days), intensive supervision (124 days) and pre-trial release (1926
days).
L. The Work Release program collected $12,448.62 in August and the Probation Department collected
$188,775.62.
VI. Jail Expenses
A. Controller Wissinger moved that the jail’s current bills be paid, Sheriff Sites seconded the motion and
the motion was unanimously approved.
VII. Old Business
A. Warden Franzoni provided a staffing update. There are 48 FT officer positions filled with 12 pending,
and two PT officers.
B. Warden Franzoni gave a facilities update. The jail is in the last phase for the security upgrade
planning. The county’s IT department has completed the wi-fi study and identified the jail’s dead
spots.
VIII. New Business = None
IX. The next meeting is scheduled for October 14, 2025 at 8:30AM at the Franklin County Administration Building.
Judge Meyers moved to end the meeting, Sheriff Sites seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned.