Oppose House Bill 338 and Protect Prison Rehabilitation Programs

I am writing to urge you to oppose House Bill 338 in its current form. While I understand this bill was introduced following the tragic December 2024 killing of a corrections officer at Ross Correctional Institution, the legislation contains numerous provisions unrelated to preventing serious prison violence that will undermine rehabilitation and public safety. HB 338 eliminates all higher education programs at higher security prisons and bans vocational program participation for anyone who violated conduct rules in the previous year. These provisions will result in people exiting Ohio's prison system less equipped to find employment and avoid recidivism. The bill also requires all visitations at higher security prisons to be no-contact, bans individual tablet use, and creates a public registry for those who commit sexual offenses while incarcerated, with data published on the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections website for ten years after final discharge. The committee has not requested or reviewed data on how often the violence targeted by HB 338 actually occurs, the frequency of contraband smuggling, or the predicted impacts of these sweeping changes. This lack of analysis is concerning given that Ohio is already one of the top incarcerators globally, our prison system has been over capacity for decades, and the DRC budget exceeds $2 billion annually while facing notable staff shortages. Past prison directors have argued to the General Assembly that Ohio incarcerates too many people for the wrong reasons, placing unnecessary strain on the system and taxpayers. Drug possession remains the number one reason for prison entry in Ohio. Making prisons safer for staff, visitors, and incarcerated individuals is a laudable goal, but this kitchen sink approach is counterproductive. I urge you to reject HB 338 and instead pursue a narrower bill that directly addresses serious prison violence without eliminating the rehabilitation programs that help people successfully reenter society and keep our communities safe.