11/21/2025
Chief Scott Comstock Zanesville City Jail 332 South Street
Zanesville, OH 43701
RE: 2025 Annual Jail Inspection Dear Chief Scott Comstock:
In accordance with Section 5120.10 of the Ohio Revised Code and Executive Order 92-03 of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the Zanesville City Jail, a full service jail, was inspected on 11/18/2025. The inspection was restricted to assessing compliance with a group of standards, selected from the Standards for Jails in Ohio promulgated by the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. The group of standards being inspected focused on Reception & Release, Classification, Security, Housing, Sanitation and Environmental Conditions, Communication, Visitation, Medical and Mental Health Services, Food Service, Recreation and Programming, Inmate Discipline, Administrative Segregation, Grievance, Staffing, and Staff Training. The inspection consisted of this Inspector receiving and/or reviewing requested documentation and/or materials, touring selected areas of the jail, and having discussions with various jail staff.
The total actual general housing capacity for the Zanesville City Jail is 56. On the date of the jail inspection, there were 39 inmates incarcerated in the Zanesville City Jail. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction recommended housing capacity for the jail is 56, which is based upon total available living space and other requirements. Officials should maintain prisoner counts within the Department’s recommended capacity figure .
The Zanesville City Jail (Full Service Jail) is in compliance with 174 standards, 53 "Essential", and 121 "Important".
5120:1-8-01 (A); -01 (B); -01 (C); -01 (D); -01 (E); -01 (F); -01 (G); -01 (H); -01 (I); -01 (J); -01 (K); -01 (M); -01 (N); -01
(O); -02 (A); -02 (B)(1); -02 (B)(2); -02 (B)(3); -02 (B)(5); -02 (D); -03 (A)(1); -03 (A)(3); -03 (A)(4); -03 (A)(5); -03 (A)(6);
-03 (A)(7); -03 (B)(1); -03 (B)(2); -03 (B)(3); -03 (B)(4); -03 (B)(5); -03 (B)(6); -03 (B)(7); -03 (B)(8); -03 (B)(9); -03 (B)
(10)(a); -03 (B)(10)(b); -03 (B)(10)(c); -03 (B)(10)(d); -03 (B)( 11)(a); -03 (B)(11)(b); -03 (B)(11)(c); -03 (B)(12); -03 (B)
(13); -03 (B)(14); -03 (B)(15); -03 (B)(16); -03 (B)(17); -04 (A)(1); -04 (A)(2)(a); -04 (A)(2)(d); -04 (A)(3); -04 (A)(4); -04
(B); -04 (C); -04 (D); -04 (E); -04 (F); -04 (G); -04 (H); -04 (I); -04 (J); -04 (K); -04 (L); -05 (A); -05 (B); -05 (C); -05
(D); -05 (E); -05 (F); -05 (G)(1); -05 (G)(2); -05 (G)(3); -05 (H)(1); -05 (H)(2); -05 (H)(3); -05 (H)(4); -05 (H)(5); -05 (H)
(6); -05 (I); -05 (J); -05 (K); -05 (L); -05 (M); -05 (N); -05 (O); -05 (P); -05 (Q); -06 (A); -06 (B); -06 (C); -06 (D); -06 (F);
-06 (G); -06 (H); -07 (A); -07 (B); -07 (C); -07 (D); -07 (E); -07 (F); -07 (G); -07 (H); -07 (I); -07 (J); -09 (A); -09 (B); -09
(C); -09 (D); -09 (E); -09 (F); -09 (G); -09 (H); -09 (I); -09 (J); -09 (K); -09 (L); -09 (M); -09 (N); -09 (O); -09 (P); -09 (Q);
-09 (R); -09 (S); -09 (T); -09 (U); -09 (V); -09 (W); -09 (X); -09 (Y); -09 (Z); -09 (AA); -10 (A); -10 (B); -10 (C); -10 (D);
-10 (E); -10 (F); -10 (G); -10 (H)(1); -10 (H)(2); -11 (A); -11 (B); -11 (C); -11 (D); -11 (E); -12 (A); -12 (B); -12 (C); -12
(D); -12 (E); -12 (F); -12 (G); -12 (H); -12 (I); -15 (A); -15 (B); -15 (C); -15 (E); -15 (F); -16 (A); -16 (B); -17 (A)(1); -17
(A)(2); -17 (A)(3); -17 (A)(4); -17 (A)(5); -17 (A)(6); -17 (A)(7); -18 (A); -18 (B); -18 (C); -18 (D); -18 (E);
The Zanesville City Jail did not comply with 2 standards, 0 "Essential", and 2 "Important". This letter is intended to serve as a basis for developing plans of action for bringing the facility into compliance with the deficiencies noted during the inspection.
5120:1-8-02 (B) Each full service jail will have written policies and procedures, and practices which evidence, compliance with the following standards: (6) Inmates participating in work or educational release programs will be housed separately from the general population.
Comments: At the time of inspection, inmates participating in work or educational release programs were observed being housed with general population. Jail officials should take steps to ensure inmates participating in work or educational release programs are housed separately from general population to evidence compliance with this standard.
5120:1-8-15 Full service jails shall comply with the following standards regarding administrative segregation. (D) (Important) Within twenty-four hours of administrative segregation, the inmate will be provided with written documentation of the reason for confinement. The inmate will be provided an opportunity for a written or oral response to the jail administrator or designee, to be reviewed within seventy-two hours for determination of continued confinement.
Comments: At the time of inspection, Jail Administration provided documentation showing the inmates were not always provided written documentation of the reason for confinement when they were placed in administrative segregation.
Jail Officials shall take steps to ensure that within twenty -four hours of an inmate being placed in administrative segregation they are provided with written documentation of the reason for confinement to evidence compliance with this standard.
The Zanesville City Jail is in compliance with 100% of the Essential Standards and at least 90% of the Important Standards meeting the requirements of a “Compliant Jail”. It should be noted however; the jail did not comply with 2 of the Important Standards upon which the facility was inspected. This letter is intended to serve as a basis for developing plans of action for bringing the facility back into compliance with the remaining deficiencies noted during the inspection.
The Bureau of Adult Detention encourages the jail to correct the remaining deficiencies noted in the inspection report prior to the next annual jail inspection. Plan of Action forms are enclosed and can be submitted through the Ohio Jail Management System (OHJMS) at www.OHJMS.Intelligrants.com. Feel free to contact the Bureau if you need assistance or clarification in this effort. The Bureau remains available to discuss the aspects of this report and to provide reference materials or assistance as desired.
Sincerely,
David Hicks, State Jail Inspector Bureau of Adult Detention
4545 Fisher Road, Suite D Columbus, Ohio 43228
Phone: (614) 971-9214
Email: david.hicks@odrc.state.oh.us