Ohio lawmakers cite “dangerous and deteriorating conditions” at Butler County Jail
NEED TO KNOW
- Ohio lawmakers urge state investigation into Butler County Jail conditions
- Inspectors flag overcrowding and use of “warden burger” for inmates in isolation
- Sheriff defends the meal as nutritious and approved by a dietician
An Ohio county jail is under renewed scrutiny after Democratic lawmakers urged state officials to investigate what they describe as unsafe and degrading conditions — including the use of a so-called “warden burger” served to inmates held in disciplinary isolation.
State Reps. Christine Cockley and Mark Sigrist, along with Sen. William DeMora, sent a letter on Tuesday, Jan. 6, asking the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC) to conduct an unannounced inspection of the Butler County Jail in Hamilton, Ohio, according to local news outlet Fox8.
The lawmakers cited “documented evidence of dangerous and deteriorating conditions,” pointing to overcrowding, heating problems and violations tied to inmate meals. According to an ODRC compliance report issued after a July inspection, the jail was housing 805 inmates — 49 people above the state’s recommended capacity of 756, though still below its maximum housing limit of 844. Inspectors warned that inmate populations should remain within recommended limits, noting that the facility continued to accept additional detainees despite crowding concerns.
PEOPLE reached out to the Butler County Jail for comment but did not receive an immediate response…