Cuyahoga County Jail Inmates

Inmates often keep to themselves because others are often intimidating and bullying. Some blame difficulties with getting along with other on detoxing from drug usage. Problems can arise at any time and often include fighting and not following rules. To combat these problems many choose to keep to themselves as much as possible by staying in their assigned bunks.

It is often noted to hide anything purchased through commissary because other inmates will expect it to be shared. Inmates are not allowed to pick a cellmate. All cells are assigned based on the kind of crime. Non-violent offenders may opt to being trustees and receive a nicer pod though work is required. Work for trustees include laundry and other chores, though larger food portions are included.

Most inmates are not allowed early release based on good behavior. Good behavior may earn time off a sentence if a judge deems it fit. Guidelines in relation to time off are not expressly stated. Good behavior includes not stealing, not fighting, complying with correctional officers, getting along with other inmates, and keeping out of trouble.

Blocks
Cuyahoga County Jail has eleven different floors with four pods to each floor. A workhouse is also available but only has one floor. Cottages also house more than four hundred women at a time. Each pod has fourteen rooms with two inmates per room. Each block is individually named with letters and numbers or names. Some include 7H, 5D, 5E, Kennedy, ROTC, Harmon, Hale, and East. A solitary pod is also present along with a medical pod and a psychiatric pod.

The workhouse holds only felonious offenders for no more than fourteen days. Those who are accused of murder are also housed here along with traffic violators. Those under doctor supervision are housed in the medical pod. Disruptive inmates are often kept in the psychiatric pod. Most pods are divided via age from those over the age of thirty-five to those under the age of thirty-five.

The trustees also have separate pods. Inmates are separated by uniform color. Those who have committed violent offense will wear different colors from those who did not. Men traditionally wear orange, and women wear blue. Uniforms are matching top and bottoms of the same color.

Phones and Visitors
Ten phones are available in each pod. These phones are pay phones and can be used throughout the day. All phones are disconnected after lights-out. Pre-paid phone cards can be used. All other phone calls are to be collect and cost eight dollars for fifteen minutes. All calls are screened.

Visitors are allowed once a week but require approval at least forty-eight hours in advance. Visits take place through windows and telephones. How often visitors are allowed can be based on the committed offense.

Meals
Meals are served three times a day and are usually disliked. Breakfast is normally liked the most. Commissary is available twice a week with various snack foods. Medications are available for purchased but only if approved by a nurse or physician. Medications are provided every few hours.

Those abusing drugs are placed in solitary confinement or isolation.