Top 5 Prisons with the Most Deaths in Ohio: A Closer Look

Ohio’s prison system, overseen by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC), houses over 43,000 inmates across 28 state facilities. While these institutions aim to rehabilitate and maintain order, some have become notorious for high death rates due to violence, overdoses, suicides, and medical neglect. Based on available data and historical records, According to Prison Policy, here are the top five Ohio prisons with the most reported deaths, shedding light on the challenges within the state’s correctional system as of March 17, 2025.

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1. Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF)  Lucasville

The Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Lucasville, tops the list due to its violent history and ongoing issues. The 1993 Lucasville prison riot, one of the deadliest in U.S. history, claimed 10 lives nine inmates and one correctional officer over 11 days. Beyond this infamous event, SOCF consistently reports high rates of inmate-on-inmate and inmate-on-staff assaults, with 409 violent incidents in a single year cited in a 2016 report. Drug overdoses and suicides further contribute to its death toll, fueled by contraband and gang activity. Its reputation as Ohio’s most dangerous prison underscores the persistent safety concerns.

2. Ohio Penitentiary – Columbus (Historical)

Though closed in 1984, the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus left an indelible mark with its staggering death count during its 150-year operation. The most catastrophic event was the 1930 fire, which killed 322 inmates in one of North America’s deadliest prison disasters, exacerbated by locked cells and delayed response. Additionally, the facility executed 343 inmates 28 by hanging and 315 by electrocution between 1885 and 1963. While no longer active, its historical death toll dwarfs modern facilities, making it a grim benchmark in Ohio’s prison legacy.

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3. Pickaway Correctional Institution – Orient

Pickaway Correctional Institution ranks high due to its severe COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, one of the nation’s largest in a prison. Designed for 1,328 inmates but holding over 2,000 at the pandemic’s onset, the facility reported 1,792 cases and at least 35 deaths from the virus by mid-2021. Overcrowding in dorm-style housing, with beds just three feet apart, fueled the spread. Beyond the pandemic, drug-related deaths and medical neglect have added to its tally, highlighting systemic issues in managing vulnerable populations.

4. Marion Correctional Institution – Marion

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Marion Correctional Institution ties with Pickaway for COVID-19 devastation, recording 2,440 cases and over 30 deaths during the 2020 outbreak. Originally a medium-security facility, its open-dorm layout and 54% overcapacity worsened outcomes. Outside of the pandemic, Marion has faced scrutiny for drug overdoses and suicides, with inadequate mental health support and staffing shortages often cited. Its death rate reflects broader challenges in Ohio’s aging prison infrastructure.

5. Toledo Correctional Institution (TCI) – Toledo

Toledo Correctional Institution, a maximum-security prison opened in 2000, rounds out the list with a rising death toll tied to violence and health crises. After a 2012 restructuring concentrated Ohio’s most violent inmates here, serious assaults spiked, including a 2013 murder where an inmate was strangled. Overcrowding—peaking at 1,604 inmates against a 950 capacity—has intensified tensions, while drug overdoses and untreated medical conditions contribute to fatalities. TCI’s shift to housing high-risk offenders has undeniably elevated its mortality rate.

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A Statewide Crisis

These five prisons reflect Ohio’s broader struggles with overcrowding, understaffing, and inadequate healthcare. The ODRC reported 77 COVID-19 deaths across its system by mid-2020, with Pickaway and Marion alone accounting for over half. Historical events like the Ohio Penitentiary fire and the Lucasville riot, combined with modern issues like drug influx and mental health neglect, paint a troubling picture. While exact, up-to-date death totals per facility are hard to pin down due to inconsistent reporting, these institutions stand out based on documented incidents and historical data.

Top 5 Prisons with the Most Deaths in Ohio: A Closer Look  was originally published on ronewiznation.staging.go.ione.nyc