Commissioner Questions if Juvenile Detention Agreement is Bad Deal

March 25, 2021 by Samuel Hummer

Geauga County pays almost $120,000 four times a year to house juveniles at the Portage-Geauga County Detention Center — a cost county Commissioner Tim Lennon questioned at the commissioners’ regular meeting March 12.

Lennon asked County Budget and Finance Director Adrian Gorton how many juveniles were sent to the facility from Geauga this year. Gorton said he is not sure, but Geauga County is responsible for a percentage of the budget for the facility, which is located in Shalersville.

“There is a period where they look back and see what their expenses were. More years than not, we have gotten a sizable rebate from them,” Gorton said.

County Administrator Gerry Morgan said the cost is based off of the previous year’s occupancy and the cost to operate the facility.

“So whatever our (Geauga County’s) occupancy was before, that is what we pay and that is what is set up for us to pay,” Morgan said.

Lennon asked Geauga County Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri, who was sworn in as Portage County chief deputy sheriff earlier this year, how many kids he believed were sent to the detention center this quarter.

“I believe it is less than five, total,” Spidalieri replied.

“So we spent nearly half a million dollars in 2020, which 2021’s numbers are based off of 2020, so this is what we owe,” Lennon said.

Lennon said it cost about $600 per night to house a juvenile at the detention center, which he noted is higher than normal for other counties.

“We have to address that and figure out what our options are,” Lennon said, adding being an equity shared partner in the joint detention center is a bad deal.

“Forty years ago, it probably would have been a good idea, but with 2020, the changes and delays, and the way the system is run, it is not a great option,” Morgan added.

Morgan said the county has different options to house longer-term juveniles, but needs to look for more short-term options to address situations when a juvenile may go into detention on a Friday for a Monday morning hearing.

“I think the court will acknowledge that they are sending less and less kids to detention, too,” Lennon said. “Hopefully, we can set up a meeting with (Geauga County Juvenile Probate Court Judge Tim Grendell) and the staff and come up with some options.”

Morgan said he has been talking to the judge and they are waiting on Trumbull County to answer.

“Trumbull County is willing to take the kids, but they are waiting until they feel more comfortable after COVID, especially with transportation,” Morgan said.

Lennon said with current costs, there is the potential for a long-term situation in which 2021 costs could mean the county pays upwards of $60,000-$70,000 to house a juvenile in Shalersville for three months.

“So we have to figure something out,” Lennon said.

“So then if Trumbull agrees to take the kids, we will dissolve everything with Portage?” Jim Dvorak asked.

“Correct,” Morgan replied. “I have approached the juvenile court and they said they want to make sure that we have at least one more option for short-term stays for juveniles before we talk to Portage County.”