Wayne County sheriff prepares for completion of modernized jail facility

As construction continues on Wayne County’s jail facility, Sheriff Tom Ballinger is preparing his office for the operational and human elements that come with managing a larger, modernized detention center.

The county received a $15 million matching grant from the State of Ohio in April 2023 to renovate and expand its jail, which opened in 1977. The project adds about 72,000 square feet of space and increases capacity from roughly 120-248 inmates.

The addition is scheduled to be operational in 2026.

Ballinger, a longtime law-enforcement officer and U.S. Army veteran, said his focus is on hiring and preparing the right personnel to run the new facility.

“We’re hiring strategically as the new jail moves closer to completion,” Ballinger said. “It’s not just about adding staff. It’s about building the right team and giving them the support they need. Deputies and corrections officers face incredible amounts of stress, and we’re making sure they have the resources they need for their mental health. At the same time, we must address the root causes that keep inmates returning to jail, like addiction and mental health issues. Expanding our facility will help, but real progress will come from preventing that cycle in the first place.”

The sheriff’s office has received a steady stream of applicants for new deputy and corrections positions and recently expanded internal support services including the addition of a full-time chaplain to assist with deputies’ well-being.

Local government officials said renovation was chosen over relocating to a new facility partly because of cost and efficiency. A 2022 feasibility study estimated a remote new building would cost about $47 million, compared with $30.2 million for expansion at the current Wooster site.

Keeping the jail adjacent to the courthouse also will cut inmate transport costs and improve coordination between law enforcement and the courts.

Ballinger has acknowledged that increasing capacity alone will aid but not resolve long-term overcrowding. He has called for continued investment in diversion, treatment and prevention programs to reduce recidivism and lessen the burden on the local justice system.

The expanded facility is expected to open in early 2026, providing updated housing units, enhanced safety features, and specialized areas for medical and mental health care.

Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.