While Cuyahoga County houses more than 1,400 people each day in its notorious jail, learning who is inside is often a frustrating struggle for those on the outside.
For years, many sheriff’s offices across Ohio have allowed the public to search a website database to discover who is behind bars. They’re often a quick tool for families and friends searching for missing loved ones.
Cuyahoga County is the exception. There is no database for the public to search.In addition to families, the lack of access affects attorneys, bail bond agent and even police detectives, who say they’ve often waited hours for a jail employee to answer a phone — if the call is answered at all — to learn if someone is in jail.
They’ll all have to continue waiting as Cuyahoga County attempts to build a database, a process that could extend deep into 2025.
Advocates say having immediate access to jail rosters is vital, not only to law enforcement, but to the public. Websites help eliminate uncertainty for families and friends of those behind bars. It’s also a tool used by crime victims seeking assurances that their perpetrator is in custody.