The Wayne County
Sheriff's Office operates from offices in the Wayne County Justice
Center, which was constructed in 1977. The Wayne County Justice
Center includes a multi-jurisdictional communication center
providing radio communications to local law enforcement agencies
and fire departments, in addition to specialized services for the
hearing impaired community, National Weather Service and Disaster Services Agency. In August 1989, Wayne County became an enhanced
911 community to better serve its citizens. Every division
of the Sheriff's Office is staffed 24 hours a day.
Wayne County
Justice Center
Corrections
Division
The Corrections
Division operates all adult detention facilities in Wayne County under the
jurisdiction of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. The Wayne County Jail has been
recognized as one of the best designed and most secure detention facilities in Ohio.
In addition, the Wayne County Jail has been awarded numerous Certificates of Excellence from the Ohio Department
of Corrections and The National Corrections Association of Health for their
continual excellence in compliance with state standards.
The Wayne County Jail offers several
rehabilitation programs to inmates. Currently, services are offered for alcohol and
drug addiction, mental health counseling, GED, physical education, a work
release program, community work programs and religious services.
Patrol
Division
The Patrol
Division is responsible for providing primary police service to
the unincorporated villages and townships within Wayne County.
Each deputy is trained in the areas of first aid, firearms, human
relations, patrol techniques and procedures, domestic violence,
mental illness, alcohol abuse, narcotics, gambling, vice, juvenile
delinquency, traffic control, accident investigations, and all
phases of criminal investigations.
In addition,
sheriff's deputies are responsible for serving arrest warrants
generated by Wayne County Common Pleas Court, Probate Court, Juvenile
Court, Municipal Court and Small Claims Court.
A staff of
deputies are assigned to follow-up investigations of serious
crimes reported to the Sheriff, and assist other jurisdictions
upon request.
Civil Division
The Sheriff is responsible
for serving summonses, subpoenas, civil and criminal decrees
originating from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and all other
county courts.
In addition, the Wayne County
Sheriff's Office administers all sheriff sales, orders of executions
and distribution of funds.
Wayne
County Discipline and Rehabilitation Center
On March 1, 2009, the Discipline and Rehabilitation Center closed its
doors. The very successful and popular program, which would have
celebrated its 10th year of operations in June, was closed due to
funding appropriations. During the nearly 10 years of operations,
the DRC saw:
3211 residents being transferred from the court/county jail to
successfully complete their court ordered responsibilities, which
included:
- Residential stay instead of confinement at the secured jail
- Being responsible for paying their court ordered fees and fines
- Maintaining employment
- Participating in house keeping issues
- Completing their court ordered service hours
Throughout the history of the DRC, the following information was
collected.
214,153 hours of community service hours were done in Wayne
County. Some of those hours being completed at:
- Viola Startzman's Free Clinic
- Habitat for Humanities
- Cities of Wooster, Orrville and Rittman
- Salvation Army
- Wayne County Commissioners Maintenance
- Wayne County Care Center
- Wayne County Fair Board
- Interfaith Housing
- Wooster Chamber of Commerce
- Tri-County Schools
- Red Cross
- United Way
- Hospice
- Numerous Wayne County Township maintenance garages
$1,529,312 was received by "charging" residents $20 a day
for their stay at the DRC.
Tax payers of Wayne County realized a savings of $9,825,550 by not
housing these individuals in the Wayne County Jail. (Total # of days
served x $70 [cost of housing at WCJ]).
I wish to personally thank Judges Mark K. Wiest and Robert J. Brown,
former Judge William Bailey, William Evans and Stuart K. Miller, along
with retired County Commissioner Fred Cannon, Cheryl Noah, Mark Sheppard
and County Prosecutor Martin Frantz for their keen insight and ability
to "look outside the box" at our Criminal Justice System for
Wayne County.
Lastly, I extend my sincere gratitude to the staff of the DRC,
Director Ron Dessecker, Program Manager Ada Franks, Executive Secretary
Karen Graham and Deputy Chuck Waligura, for their tireless work over the
past many years to the citizens of this county. Their work was,
and continues to be, some of the best this county sheriff's office can
offer.
I hope there is a day when appropriations become available and
identifiable for the re-opening of this program for the sheriff and
community. As shown from the past history of this program, it is
needed in our future.
Sheriff Thomas G. Maurer
The philosophy of the
facility
The Pay To Stay Program
concept is a sentencing option available to judges in Wayne
County. The program is designed for convicted, non-violent
offenders in lieu of serving time in jail/prison. The offenders
sentenced to the program would generally be sentenced to jail and
released daily for "work release" privileges and rehabilitation as directed by the
court. In addition, the Pay To Stay Program will enable each offender to
complete all court ordered counseling, such as AA/NA meetings, GED
classes and continue to work while paying restitution to their
victims and paying the court costs
Sheriff Maurer realizes that since the offender will have to
"pay" to stay at this facility, contacts have been
established within our community to assist with job placement
for these individuals prior to sentencing.
The minimum time spent in
the facility will vary depending on the sentencing judge.
Each volunteer resident entering the facility will agree upon and
sign a contract acknowledging all rules and restrictions of the
facility.
Residents who are
unsuccessfully released from the facility do not receive jail
credit for the time spent in the facility.
The
classification/status
of the offenders served by the facility
Each resident of the
facility will be convicted non-violent felons or misdemeanors.
Consequence of offender
non-compliance with facility regulations
Residents who violate the
rules and regulations will be dealt with accordingly. Policy and
procedures will be established outlining any violation of the
facility. If unsuccessfully released from the facility, residents
will be immediately arrested and taken to the Wayne County Jail.
Operation of the
facility
The Wayne County Sheriff
and his appointed staff are responsible for the daily operations of
the facility. In addition, the Wayne County Sheriff is responsible
for the security and supervision of the facility.
The facility site is owned
by the Wayne County Commissioners and operated by the Wayne County
Sheriff.
The year 2000 saw the first
full year of business for the Discipline and Rehabilitation Center.
Two hundred and ninety-four residents spent a total of 15,950 days
at the DRC. Using the figure of $70.00 per day for housing inmates
outside of Wayne County, the DRC saved the county in excess of 1.1
million dollars.
Director Ron
Dessecker, Program Manager Ada Franks and Secretary Karen Graham are
committed to this program and want Wayne Countians to be proud of
their Discipline and Rehabilitation Center.
Through Substance Abuse, Treatment, Education and Prevention
Services, (STEPS), we were able to find a person willing to head up
an AA group that meets at the DRC. It is a “closed” meeting each
week for an hour that our residents may attend. If a resident is not
familiar with the concept of AA, this group allows the resident to
get comfortable attending AA with people they are familiar with
before attending an outside group meeting.
Dormitory
Security Area
The Center
tries to have the residents get involved in volunteerism
in our community. They donated numerous hours to area agencies that
needed help. Among agencies they volunteered at were: The Free
Clinic and the Orrville Salvation Army. At Christmas, the residents
made crafts designed as toys or jewelry to be given to children
through People to People Ministries. This project was funded through
the Wayne County Sheriff's Reserve Unit and Jail Chaplain Anderson.
Teamwork is essential to be successful in any endeavor, and that
teamwork comes from the Sheriff, Wayne County Judges, The Wayne
County Commissioners and the many companies in the Wayne County
area. Without the cooperation of all, this program would only be a
pipe dream.
If you have any
questions or comments about the DRC, please submit them below:
