Lorain County OH Jail

The Corrections Division of the Lorain County Sheriff's Office is its largest operational unit, dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of all individuals incarcerated within the Lorain County Jail (not to be confused with the adjacent Lorain/Medina Community-Based Correctional Facility). Functioning like a self-contained city, the jail is equipped with comprehensive facilities, including in-house medical and mental health staff, an infirmary, a full-scale laundry operation, a professional kitchen, a library, maintenance and janitorial services, a chaplain, and a contract commissary service.

The Corrections Division manages the intake of inmates from various sources, including county police agencies, the Ohio Department of Corrections for parole violations, the Probation Department for probation violations, and the Lorain County Common Pleas and Municipal Courts. To facilitate swift and accurate processing, the division employs digital imaging and digital fingerprint scanning technologies. These tools enable the rapid and precise identification of arrested individuals by electronically transmitting fingerprints to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) in central Ohio. The booking process is fully computerized, and the utilization of a video arraignment system for the Municipal Courts minimizes security risks and reduces the costs associated with transporting inmates.

The Lorain County Jail is a full-service correctional facility capable of housing 422 male and female inmates. Corrections officers within this facility are tasked with maintaining overall security. Their duties include conducting physical patrols and visual inspections of the facility and housing areas to ensure the safety and security of both staff and residents. They perform searches of physical premises and cells for contraband, closely monitor residents for any unusual or abnormal activity, and rigorously enforce established security procedures. These measures are essential for maintaining order and safety within the facility.

Books and magazines ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. Prisons and jails enforce this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.

Inmate workers are chosen based on conduct and cooperation with staff. Participation in the community service program can reduce sentences by one day for every 24 hours of work. Inmate workers receive double feeding trays and two mattresses. Commissary is available weekly, with orders submitted via kiosk two days in advance. On holidays, orders may be doubled. Indigent inmates must miss two commissary days to receive a weekly indigent pack containing basic hygiene items, and indigent mail is stamped only for the Attorney of Record or the Court. Upon receiving commissary items, inmates must present their ID, check their order, and sign for it in the presence of the commissary employee.

The jail offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Alternatively, setting up an account through a third-party phone company may entail high fees per minute of usage. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.