Butler County’s long-idle Resolutions jail in Hamilton is getting pulled off the bench and readied as an overflow lockup, Sheriff Richard Jones says, describing the building as “turnkey” and capable of taking inmates on short notice. Jones told reporters crews have repaired the HVAC system, showers and electronics, and have added new fixtures and fresh paint. The move comes as state inspectors and area lawmakers turn up the heat on county leaders over crowding at the main jail and the county’s work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to WKRC, the Resolutions building sits just north of the main jail and, per state inspection records cited by the station, is configured to hold about 245 inmates. WKRC also reports that Jones said the county bought the Resolutions property from a nonprofit last August and that the site will be used as an overflow option if other county facilities start to crowd up.
Lawmakers Seek More Inspections
Ohio Reps. Christine Cockley and Mark Sigrist, along with state Sen. William DeMora, have formally asked the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to step up its scrutiny of Butler County’s jails. In a letter reported by WLWT, the trio called for unannounced inspections and a review of overall capacity and ICE housing. They also urged corrections officials to put an enhanced monitoring protocol in place to safeguard the health, safety and constitutional rights of people held in county custody, according to WLWT’s account.
Inspections Show Crowding but Compliance
A 2025 state inspection found 805 inmates at the main Butler County Jail, a population that topped the recommended limit of 756 but stayed below the hard cap of 844. Even with those numbers, inspectors rated the facility “compliant,” WKRC reports. That crowding snapshot has helped fuel interest in bringing Resolutions back into the regular rotation as an overflow site instead of letting it sit mostly unused.
ICE Contract and Bed Counts
The county has also restarted a contract to house ICE detainees and has been billing the federal government for detention and transport. Reporting by WCPO says Butler County billed about $1.2 million between March and June, with federal payments running at roughly $68 per detainee per day, plus additional transport fees.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office lists the Corrections Center at 705 Hanover Street as having capacity for about 848 inmates and notes that the Resolutions facility at 442 S. Second Street has historically been used for overflow housing and administrative space. Butler County Sheriff's Office
Legal Questions Remain
Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser told reporters he has asked the Ohio attorney general to clarify the county’s authority when it comes to detaining immigrants. WLWT reported that Attorney General Dave Yost later issued an opinion saying county sheriffs do have the authority to hold some ICE detainees in their jails. That opinion narrowed certain liability questions, but advocates are still pushing for more transparency about who is being held and why, according to WLWT.
For now, Jones says the Resolutions building is ready to take inmates and will function as an overflow facility if needed. County officials point to state inspections, grand jury oversight and federal contracts as key checks on the system. Residents and advocacy groups say they will keep a close eye on how quickly the county starts moving people into the building and whether the ICE contracts reshape who is sitting inside Butler County’s cells.
