Watchdog: Accusations come to light over well-being and safety of inmates in Columbiana County Jail

That jail is the only privately owned jail in Ohio, meaning the sheriff's department does not operate it like in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties.

21 News found the jail is below average in meeting essential state standards, from the health and treatment of those behind bars to overcrowding and lack of staff training.

"A lot of the inmates would rather serve their time in a state prison, as opposed to that jail," an anonymous source in the law enforcement profession with first-hand experience in the Columbiana County Jail, said. 

Among the concerns are untrained staff, use of excessive force and lack of proper health care. Examples like these and others are reflected in a federal lawsuit filed in 2022 that alleges mistreatment and wrongful actions in the Columbiana County Jail that led to an inmate's "permanent brain injury."

The lawsuit alleges jail staff was "denying [former inmate Gavin Heiney] medical care and treatment despite his obvious need and requests, and by subjecting him to malicious use of excessive force while he was seriously physically ill."

Attorneys call the alleged findings "utterly intolerable in a civilized society," and a violation of his rights and established law.

The lawsuit goes on to state Heiney was detoxing and there was an alleged "series of failures" including not properly assessing his health needs that ultimately led to cardiac arrest and diagnosis of brain injury, an injury so severe that he could no longer face trial.

In a completely separate incident, earlier this month, 21 News obtained body cam footage after two corrections officers were accused of assaulting two inmates. 

Our anonymous source said he has witnessed similar issues reflected in the lawsuit.

"They're over capacity and the lack of training that the officers have is concerning," he said, "You're going into an environment that you don't even know how you're going to be treated. 'Am I going to be sleeping on a bed, or am I going to be sleeping on the floor because we're overcrowded?'"

He added inmates are not getting fresh air or access outside and that he has seen questionable use of force.

"Seeing how when an inmate gets tossed in the ground when he's cuffed... just the way they're treated is just big," he said, "How could that not bother somebody? You know? If it doesn't bother you, to me, that's an issue."

Last month, the state reported the jail was not complying with 32 jail standards out of the 146 set by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. 

Almost half of those infractions were considered "essential" meaning they "directly support the life, safety and health of jail inmates." The average number of infractions is six. 

In Mahoning and Trumbull County, the jails are meeting all essential standards in 2024 with more than double and triple the number of inmates.

In Columbiana County, the state inspector found a lack of proper medical policies such as inmate pre-screening.

"If you're in there and you have a lot of drugs in your system or alcohol without the proper care of a detox, you could potentially die," he said, "If you're having a medical episode and no one is there to intervene, that could be fatal."

The jail provided records showing proper training for corrections officers is scheduled in January for any officer who has not received it and inspection infractions are being corrected, according to the jail administration.

On Friday at 6pm, 21 News will air part two of this Watchdog report as the jail warden shares what improvements are being made and the County Sheriff explains why he would like to see his department take over.