Marion Correctional Institution (Ohio)

Marion Correctional Institution

Location	940 Marion-Williamsport Road Marion, Ohio
Status	open
Security class	medium and minimum
Capacity	2623
Opened	1954
Managed by	Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

The Marion Correctional Institution (MCI) is a minimum- and medium-security prison for men located in Marion, Marion County, Ohio, owned and operated by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

The facility first opened in 1954 and has a working population of 2,623 state inmates. The facility is close to the North Central Correctional Complex, a private prison also housing Ohio state inmates.

In 2015, two prisoners built two PCs with parts that were used to do malicious actions on the prison's secure network.

On April 18, 2020, approximately 50 National Guardsmen were activated to assist staff after nearly two thousand prisoners and staff tested positive for the 2019-nCoV coronavirus. One correction officer had died by that point, and nearly three-quarters of prisoners had tested positive.

In May 2020 Jay Z and rapper Meek Mill, through their group REFORM Aliiance, donated 10 million protective masks to correctional systems throughout the United States, including MCI.

As of July 28, 2020, 2 inmates had died 1,224 inmates were placed in medical quarantine, and another 11 were placed in security quarantine.

History

In 1948, the State of Ohio procured 1,243 acres of land from the United States Government. This land was previously part of the Scioto Ordinance Plant and had once housed barracks used for WWII German prisoners of war. Within the current graveyard, now maintained by the prison, lies the resting place of one German POW.

Initially, Ohio planned to utilize the barracks to accommodate older youthful offenders from the Boys Industrial School. However, this strategy swiftly changed. Instead, the barracks were repurposed to house inmates transferred from the Ohio Penitentiary (OP) and the Ohio State Reformatory (OSR). The first batch of inmates arrived from the Ohio Penitentiary in June 1950 to aid in repairing existing structures on the property. Subsequently, OSR inmates joined in November of the same year. For the ensuing four years, the Reformatory inmates were incarcerated on this site.

Construction of what is now known as the Marion Correctional Institution commenced in 1952. Originally designed to include only dormitories, cellblocks were later incorporated due to the need to accommodate inmates from the overcrowded Ohio Penitentiary. (It was later discovered, around thirty years later, that the original construction lacked steel reinforcements in the concrete block exterior walls – a deficiency that was subsequently rectified.) The initial capacity of the prison was set at 1,122, and the construction expenses totaled $8 million. In October of 195, the first group of permanent inmates from the Ohio Penitentiary was relocated to Marion.

Marion Correctional Institution boasts a rich history of inventive inmate programs. In the 1970s, it hosted the unit-managed "Project Newgate" initiative, which introduced college programming for Ohio inmates. Participants in the MCI program were granted furlough release one year before their actual release, during which they pursued college courses to continue after their prison release. The prison was also home to Ohio's initial residential inmate drug rehabilitation program, "Papillon," during the same period. The institution was notable for hosting the nation's inaugural prison-sponsored AMVETS chapter, and during the 1980s, its staff organized the world's first all-inmate chapter of the Red Cross.

A pivotal legal development occurred with Taylor vs. Perini, a case filed in 1969 that marked a significant federal court intervention in Ohio's prison operations. The lawsuit alleged a range of constitutional rights violations of inmates at Marion Correctional Institution. Through negotiations, a consent decree was established, outlining various operational changes that the institution agreed to implement. Due to ongoing disputes regarding compliance with the consent decree, a "Special Master" was appointed by the Federal Court in 1975 to oversee its execution. This "Special Master," Vincent Nathan, a Toledo attorney without prior corrections experience, assumed this role. The Taylor vs. Perini case concluded in 1991.

Inmates at MCI have showcased their talents through holiday musical pageants during Christmas and Easter. The Prison News Network (PNN), an advanced television production studio (now defunct due to inmates' misuse of computers for illicit purposes), generated high-quality video content for the institution's closed-circuit television channel. MCI was also the location of the nation's inaugural interfaith housing uni t (which was later closed due to a Covid outbreak at MCI), where inmates from Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths resided together and engaged in programs to deepen their religious commitments while gaining an understanding of other faiths. In 1992, the institution obtained accreditation.

Wardens

• 1954-1968: Lamoyne Green
• 1968-1986: E.P. Perini
• 1986-1992: Norris McMackin
• 1992-1996: Shirley Rogers
• 1996-2005: Christine Money
• 2005-2011: Margaret Beightler
• 2011-2016: Jason Bunting
• 2016-2021: Lyneal Wainwright
• 2021-2022: Leon Hill
• 2022-Current: Harold May

Notable inmates

• Bobby Lee Cutts Jr.
• David Allan Coe
• John F. Boyle, Jr.
• Kevin Keith
• Don King (boxing promoter) (1967—1970s)

Notable Incidents

Inmates Hack Computers

In 2015, suspicious activities related to the recycling program were noticed. Computers were discovered hidden in the ceiling of the prison. These computers were connected to the prison's network, giving unauthorized access to inmates. They used this access for various purposes, including applying for credit cards using stolen identities. The scheme involved passing through multiple layers, from the prison to a community nonprofit and then to banks.

Adam Johnston, one of the inmates, was at the center of this scheme. He had technical expertise and managed to access the prison's network. He stole inmate information and engaged in credit card fraud. The investigation revealed that he even had software tools for hacking and remote access.

Investigators interviewed Johnston and eventually gained his confession, detailing how he had hidden the computers and accessed the network. The prison staff's negligence and lack of security measures contributed to the success of this scheme. The incident exposed the challenges of implementing and securing technology in a prison environment.

The aftermath of the incident included changes in staff, resignations, and a reevaluation of inmates' access to technology-based programs. The story highlights the complexities of balancing education and rehabilitation opportunities with security concerns in correctional institutions.

COVID-19 Response

The Marion Correctional Institution in Ohio became a major coronavirus hotspot due to a combination of factors that contributed to the rapid spread of COVID-19 among inmates. The outbreak at Marion Correctional Institution was initially driven by a high infection rate among inmates. Over 80% of the prison's population tested positive for COVID-19. Governor Mike DeWine ordered widespread testing of inmates, which uncovered a large number of asymptomatic cases that might not have been detected otherwise.

After testing, there were delays in receiving the test results. During this waiting period, inmates who had been tested were returned to their cell blocks or dorms, allowing more time for the virus to spread among the incarcerated population. Inmates reported inadequate access to cleaning supplies, such as hand sanitizers and bleach. This lack of effective cleaning products raised concerns about the cleanliness of their living spaces and the potential for the virus to persist on surfaces.

Prisons are inherently crowded places where social distancing is difficult to achieve. The close living quarters and limited ability to physically distance from others created an environment conducive to the rapid spread of the virus. The situation caused significant mental health strain on inmates. The lack of information, isolation, and anxiety about the virus's spread within the prison led to emotional distress among the incarcerated individuals. Prisons often have limited access to medical care, making it challenging to provide timely and adequate medical attention to infected individuals.

Prison authorities did not initially move to isolate sick inmates until the disease had already spread widely within the population. This likely contributed to further transmission. A large proportion of the positive cases were asymptomatic, which made it difficult to identify and isolate infected individuals early, allowing the virus to circulate more freely.

In response to the situation, the prison authorities initiated measures such as isolating symptomatic inmates and increasing the use of disinfectants. They also made attempts to provide mental health support to the inmates.