COLUMBUS, Ohio — Changes are coming to Stark County's Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility (IRJCF) following an internal investigation into the center's leadership.
The Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) announced on Friday that James Darnell has been fired as superintendent of Indian River. In addition, Shawn Anders has been terminated as Indian River's gang intervention specialist. IRJCF Deputy Superintendent Charles Wilson "had his unclassified position revoked" and is back at his "last classified position."
All three had been on administrative leave since September 23, 2022. The DYS added that Charlie Ford will remain in his role as acting superintendent at IRJCF.
The investigation began after several youth inmates alleged that the IRJCF facility was an "unsafe environment." The DYS focused on incidents between Aug. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2022. You can read the 52-page redacted investigation report below.
Among the report's findings were:
- Darnell was negligent in his supervision of administrative staff, his assigned administrative duties, and in the use of his assigned state cellphone.
- Wilson was negligent in his supervision of a unit management administrator, his assigned administrative duties, and in the use of his assigned state cellphone.
- Anders misused state equipment and created an unsafe condition for staff and youth.
The investigation also revealed that IRJCF staff and managers failed to provide youth in the I-Unit with proper programming and recreation needs.
3News began reporting on incidents at Indian River in October of 2022, when corrections officer David Upshaw was assaulted on the job. Upshaw's family told 3News' Bri Buckley that the 60-year-old suffered severe injuries to major organs, a hematoma on the side of his head, and scrapes in his eye.
On Oct. 22, 12 youth inmates at the facility got out of their rooms and barricaded themselves in a school building armed with makeshift weapons. Days later at the state's Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility, a youth assaulted a corrections officer, taking her keys and radio, then freeing four other juveniles. They went outside and then entered a building used for programming activities, before finally being apprehended. Three of the juveniles involved in Circleville were part of the group of 12 in the October 22nd incident at Indian River.
In November, DYS announced it would be providing new tools to assist staff at Indian River, including body cameras and pepper spray (Oleoresin Capsicum).
"Research has shown in environments like ours, the use of OC spray is much safer than physical restraint," DYS Director Amy Ast wrote to staff. "The use of OC Spray will reduce injuries to staff and youth, as well as reduce the frequency of staff being off work due to physical restraint injuries."
A DYS spokesperson told 3News that as of the end of September 2022, Indian River had 77 assaults take place so far that year, compared to 66 at the end of September 2021 and 52 at the end of September of 2020.
In addition to concerns about safety, Indian River employees have also objected to having to work longer shifts.
In a letter obtained in November by 3News' Neil Fischer, titled ‘Mandatory Weekend Coverage,’ Ford explained that staff would be required to sign up for weekend shifts based on the current needs of the facility.
Ford did tell staff that if they are required to report and work on living units, they will be eligible for overtime pay and a $50 incentive pay if they work six or more hours.
Sally Meckling, communications director for Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA), told 3News that corrections officers are often mandated to work 16 hours, four times per week.
The DYS says Ast and her team "have implemented several improvements at Indian River and across DYS since last fall. This includes improvements that directly impact staff with respect to training, personal safety, hiring and retention, and security within the facility. They are also continuing to address the safety, treatment, and programming for youth."