NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio — North Royalton Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz announced today that the city is planning on closing the local jail over the next 60 days.
Antoskiewicz said the jail's financial struggles are ultimately what led to the decision.
"The taxpayers of North Royalton cannot be expected to bear the cost of housing prisoners from 19 other communities at so great a loss as is now the case," he said in a press release. "Even if we were to double our revenue from those communities served by our jail, the cost of operations would still be to high to sustain."
The mayor said his administration looked into teaming up with Cuyahoga County to help keep the jail open, but that the deal was "not appealing" to the county. Now, the city is trying to figure out where prisoners will go once the jail closes its doors.
In addition, the city says it has changed its bond schedule to let low-level, non-violent offenders out of the jail. Violent offenders will continue to be held locally or in the Cuyahoga County Jail.