Chief justice wants prison abuse investigated
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’connor is asking a legislative committee to investigate two inmates’ allegations of abuse by corrections officers at the Madison Correctional Institution.
In an unusual move, the court on Friday dismissed handwritten writs filed by the prisoners against state officials, but a justice wrote that O’connor had forwarded their complaints to the joint House-senate Correctional Institution Inspection Committee.
In actions filed against Department of Rehabilitation and Correction officials in November, the pair of prisoners alleged physical and mental abuse, threats and harassment and the use of racial slurs by corrections officers.
In a March 11 letter to Sen. Nathan Manning, R-north Ridgeville, O’connor wrote that if the inmates’ complaints are true, “there is a very serious problem in the Department of Corrections.
“The level of maltreatment and violence meted out to the inmates is disturbing. I hesitate to even send this referral for fear that the inmates will be
governor on House Bill 6 developments, Cleveland.com reported.
The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, tasked with protecting ratepayers, has called for changes to how PUCO commissioners are selected. The leader of the nominating council, which suggests finalists to Dewine, previously worked as a Firstenergy lobbyist.
A PUCO commissioner makes between $73,715 to $195,728 annually for the full-time position. Dewine’s pick will need to be approved by the Ohio Senate.
Ohio Consumers’ Counsel Bruce Weston said he wanted someone with experience protecting ratepayers instead.
“It is disappointing that once again a consumer representative was not appointed to the PUCO to balance the utility backgrounds of other commissioners,” he said. “I do wish the new PUCO commissioner well in her service to the public.”
Dewine recently reappointed PUCO commissioner Dennis Deters, a former Colerain Township trustee and judge on the First District Court of Appeals.
Common Cause Ohio, a left-leaning good government group, has asked the Ohio Senate to scrutinize Deters’ appointment because of his connections to former Ohio Republican Party leader Matt Borges, a defendant in the federal case.