Muskingum County Jail

Jail Division

The Muskingum County Sheriff Matthew J Lutz and the Corrections Division Staff are committed to providing a safe and secure place of detention in an environment that will ensure the safety of the public. The Corrections Division strives to operate in accordance set forth by the United States Constitution, Ohio Revised Code, Bureau of Adult Detention Standards, and applicable court decisions.

Sheriff Lutz and the Corrections Division Staff are governed by responsibilities to the judicial system, Muskingum County communities, and the inmates remanded to the Sheriff's custody.

The main operational philosophy practiced within the Corrections Division is our Strategic Inmate Management, which promotes the principles of direct corrections officer-to-inmate interaction. This has been proven to be an effective approach to inmate supervision; with results being a safer, more humane environment for both inmates and staff. Strategic Inmate Management principles include:

• Assessing the risk and need each inmate presents to develop strategies to more effectively manage their behavior.
• Completing thorough individual inmate assessments to make informed housing decisions and classify inmates to facilitate behavior management.
• Provides services to avoid behavior problems that can result from basic inmate needs.
• Defining and conveying expectations for inmate behavior.
• Supervising inmates to ensure inmate behavior meets the Sheriff’s expectations.
• Keeping inmates occupied with productive activities.

Security procedures must exist to ensure effective and efficient operations. Since most inmate will be returning to the community, opportunities for developing the skills necessary for self-sufficiency are provided through social, psychological, educational, and spiritual programs.

Staff assigned to the Muskingum County Corrections Division receive specialized training in Crisis Intervention, Strategic Inmate Management, Interpersonal Communications, First Aid, and Cultural Diversity which supports our continued mission.

The vision of the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division, focuses on actively managing inmate behavior to produce a jail operation that is safe and secure for the inmates, its staff and our visitors.