DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — Gov. Ted Strickland warned he might close one of the state's 32 prisons in 2011 unless the state prison population is reduced.

Strickland's announcement came with the release Monday, Feb. 2, of his proposed budget. Though he added $100 million to the budget of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the governor also called for changes in sentencing laws and for increased funding for halfway houses.

"I think it's good news," said Timothy Young, director of the Ohio Public Defender's office. "We're overdue examining who and why we're incarcerating."

The department has 32 prisons, and the projected budget for 2009 is $1.8 billion, according to the department's January fact sheet.

There are about 50,000 inmates, with 92.5 percent of them male. In 1971, the state housed 9,000 inmates. Without changes, according to Strickland's budget, the population could reach nearly 60,0000 by 2018.

The department employes about 13,500 people, including about 7,000 corrections officers, for an inmate-to-officer ratio of 7 to 1.

Some of Strickland's reforms including raising the dollar amount for felony theft charges and giving inmates seven days a month credit for participating in education and treatment programs.

Other proposals would divert those convicted of lower felonies into diversion programs or community-based sanctions, such as work release or electronic monitoring.

John Murphy, executive director of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, said he would be concerned about closing a prison.

"I assume that means we'd be reducing capacity," Murphy said.

As for changes to sentencing laws, Murphy said he could not comment until he saw proposed legislation.

But Young said more treatment was the answer, especially for drug-addicted defendants.

The corrections department lists an average prison stay of 2.2 years. But Young said that 50 percent of male inmates are in for less than a year, and 50 percent of females are in for less than six months.

According to Strickland's budget materials, about 15,500 inmates were admitted in 2008 for fourth- and fifth-degree felonies, punishable by a maximum of 18 months or 12 months. Those inmates are generally being locked up for low-level, non-violent felonies, such as theft or drug offenses, Young said.

"The vast majority of these people need drug treatment," Young said. "Most people who go through treatment need it two or three times before it works."

According to the corrections department, the daily cost of housing an inmate is $64.17. For a year, it's $23,422. Young said that money would go farther in treatment programs, which are cheaper and pay higher dividends by rehabilitating people.

"We've been tough on crime," Young said. We've got to get smart on crime."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2057 or lgrieco@DaytonDailyNews.com.