When someone you care about gets locked up, it's tough to figure out all the ins and outs of jail life. From sending mail to visiting, there are a lot of things to sort out. And getting info about the arrest? Not always easy. That's where this webpage comes in handy. It's here to help you get a handle on how things work at Allen County OH Jail so you can stay connected and support your loved one behind bars.
The Allen Co Jail is a detention center located at 333 N Main St Lima, OH which is operated locally by the Allen County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Allen County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, Lima Police Department, and the US Marshal's Service.
New detainees arrive at the jail regularly, with some being released on bail, placed under pretrial services caseloads, supervised by probation agencies, or released on recognizance with a court appearance agreement. Those who are not released await their court appearances at the jail, receiving accommodations including bedding and meals. You can see all the arrest records for Ohio here.
The Allen County Jail is a state-of-the-art correctional facility featuring a modern campus-style design with both direct and indirect supervision. Its innovative "keyless" system is managed from a central control room, where personnel act much like air traffic controllers, overseeing access to secured areas within the facility. Designed to house up to 210 inmates—nearly triple the capacity of its predecessor—the expansion necessitated an increase in the correctional officer staff, with an initial addition of 35 officers to the Allen County Sheriff’s Office. The community's support was instrumental in the modernization of the Allen County Jail and its correctional programs.
Eligible inmates can access various programs by contacting the social service staff. These programs include five hours of physical exercise each week through activities such as basketball, jogging, or calisthenics. Additionally, educational and rehabilitative programs are available, including G.E.D. classes, Male and female anger management, Male and female Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA), Spiritual programs, and Library services.
Books and magazines ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. Prisons and jails enforce this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at $8.00.
Inmate workers are chosen based on conduct and cooperation with staff. Participation in the community service program can reduce sentences by one day for every 24 hours of work. Inmate workers receive double feeding trays and two mattresses. Commissary is available weekly, with orders submitted via kiosk two days in advance. On holidays, orders may be doubled. Indigent inmates must miss two commissary days to receive a weekly indigent pack containing basic hygiene items, and indigent mail is stamped only for the Attorney of Record or the Court. Upon receiving commissary items, inmates must present their ID, check their order, and sign for it in the presence of the commissary employee.
The jail offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Alternatively, setting up an account through a third-party phone company may entail high fees per minute of usage. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.
The Prisoner Work Program allows eligible sentenced misdemeanants to participate in work details. There are two types of work programs: one for inside workers and another for outside community-based work. The outside work program, which is available to local government agencies such as the Fairgrounds, Engineers Office, Townships, and Law Enforcement Agencies, helps save county funds and gives inmates a sense of worth and belonging.
Inmate healthcare is managed by the Medical Services Department, which provides medical, dental, and mental health services in line with the Minimum Standards for Jails in Ohio and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). Accredited by the NCCHC since 1996, the department ensures 24-hour availability of healthcare, supported by registered nurses, LPNs, EMTs, physicians, and dentists. Physician-level sick calls are conducted three times a week, and dental services are provided monthly. Mental health services include screenings at reception, comprehensive evaluations within 14 days of confinement, ongoing suicide prevention, and crisis intervention. Licensed mental health counselors are available around the clock. Dental care includes monthly visits from a dentist, who handles various treatments and extractions.
Please note that, due to HIPAA laws, the jail's medical staff are prohibited from sharing prisoner medical information or discussing treatment histories with friends, family members, attorneys, or clergy.
