County jail achieves perfect score on state audit

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Jan. 20, 2022) – The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation has completed a full audit of the Tuscarawas County Jail, giving it a perfect score on all 176 standards.

Sheriff Orvis Campbell says it’s thanks to the efforts of jail administrator Lt. Ken Engstrom and his sergeants.

“They all took a section. They all built the files and the supporting documentation ahead of the inspectors. They divided and conquered because these inspectors left with banker’s boxes full of files.”

He says reviewing the jail’s policies and procedures is part of the audit, but far beyond that. 

“They actually go through our medical files. They go through our booking files. They view the facility. They’re turning on toilets and faucets and making sure everything works like it’s supposed to, and they actually interview some inmates about conditions at the jail, things like that.” 

Engstrom says the entire staff deserves credit for the accomplishment

“It comes down to the corrections officers, the cooks, the maintenance, transport deputies, everybody in the jail. They all helped out.” 

Campbell says the state typically audits jails on some of the standards, but this was the first time they had the entire book thrown at them. He’s not sure how many other facilities across the state received perfect scores on all 176 measures although he doubts there were very many.

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