Sheriff: Knox County jail population at 78; two cadets in police academy

Sheriff Dan Rella reported to the Knox County Board of Commissioners that the county's current jail population was 78, consisting of 17 female and 61 male detainees. "Our jail current jail population is 78 with 17 female and 61 male," Rella said, and noted the county's year-to-date average is closer to the mid-80s.

Rella told the board two cadets employed by the county are attending the North Central Police Academy, with "their expected date of completion is February 10th, 2027." He said the cadets are already county employees. Rella also described recent operational steps: when the county briefly exceeded 100 inmates, several were housed in Coshocton County and some were transported elsewhere while painting and other projects were completed. "We went over 100 a couple times," he said.

Commissioners and the sheriff discussed inmate vandalism at the jail. One commissioner said vandalism slowed after the county began pressing charges for those actions: "once you started pressing charges on them for that it it got real quiet then." Rella said deputies in the jail are closely monitoring behavior and the evidence room renovation is finished and organized, with only one camera relocation remaining.

The sheriff's update covered personnel, space and logistics but included no formal requests for new policy or additional appropriation during the session. The board did not take separate action on the jail report during this meeting.