MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Jail was denied a request to remodel its interior, which would add new female cells to the holding facility, citing discrepancies over distances to exits.
“The remodel would make the distance outside of what they (Ohio Division of Industrial Compliance) allow,” Sheriff David Shaffer said. “They offered a solution of adding an exit, but that may not comply with the Ohio Bureau of Adult Detention standards.
“Each agency says that it has to comply with their standards, but they both have different standards.”
Shaffer said the office will be contacting the Bureau of Adult Detention for guidance.
At this time, 12 women can be housed in the jail, Shaffer said. He hoped to increase that number to 24, doubling the current capacity for female inmates.
As of Wednesday morning, four of Knox County’s female inmates are housed in other county jails, Shaffer said.
