Big costs, small budgets threaten Ohio jails

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio county jails say they are struggling to avoid layoffs and stay open as they face rising operating costs with smaller county budgets.

The Morrow County sheriff has laid off 15 employees and says 13 more layoffs or the closing of the jail could come this fall because the county has no funding to spare. The Logan County sheriff's office also has cut five corrections officers and five part-time jail employees to save money this year.

Both offices say they have lost revenue because they are housing fewer inmates from other counties that no longer can afford to send inmates out of town. Now, they say they may end up paying to transport inmates elsewhere as their jail operations shrink.