Geauga County Safety Center

The Geauga County Safety Center is an ICE detention center that houses both male and female detainees who are in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This facility is located in Chardon, Ohio.

If you need information about a detainee who is housed at Geauga County Safety Center, call (216) 535-0368 anytime between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, local time. You will need to have the detainee's information ready when you call. This includes their full name (first, last, and hyphenated), known aliases, date of birth, and country of birth.

The Geauga County Safety Center opened on December 28th, 2005. It houses both local offenders awaiting trial or transfer, as well as ICE detainees. The facility has a rated capacity of 182 beds, plus nine cells.

The cells are equipped with CCTV cameras in order to assist in monitoring inmates that are on a suicide watch, have mental health issues, or have disciplinary issues and require segregation.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at Geauga County Safety Center are posted in the lobby and in each housing unit. You can find out the current visiting hours by calling the facility directly at (440) 279-2009.  Or, you can contact the inmate via snail mail to find out what housing unit he/she is in so you will know the appropriate day for visiting.

General Rules

Detainees are allowed to have two, 30-minute visits each week. Visiting privileges may be restricted for security or disciplinary reasons, if necessary. All adult visitors must have a valid photo ID. Minors must bring a copy of their birth certificate, and they must be accompanied by an adult guardian (18 years or older) at all times. 

The only items that you are allowed to bring for a detainee are prescription glasses / reading glasses and filled prescriptions for medications in original pharmacy containers.

Visits will be denied or terminated if:

• The visitor represents a clear and present danger to security.
• The visitor has a past history of disruptive conduct at the jail.
• The visitor is wearing revealing or inappropriate clothing.
• The visitor is under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• The inmate refuses the visit
• The inmate has visitation restrictions due to disciplinary or security issues.
• The inmate has already had a visit on that particular day.

Video Visits

The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office has video visitation using CPC kiosks throughout the facility that can be used for on-site video visitation. Friends or family members simply connect using the video visit station located in the facility lobby (at no charge) while the inmates can connect without ever leaving their housing unit. 

On-Site Video visitation Hours and Procedures:

Visitation will be ONE day a week to start. Visitation will be on Saturday and Sunday depending on the housing unit (keeping in line with the regular housing unit weekend schedule).

A Pod visitation – Saturday 1300-1400 hrs.
C Pod visitation – Saturday 1000-1100 hrs.
E Pod visitation – Saturday 0900-1000 hrs.
F Pod visitation – Sunday 0900 – 1000 hrs.
H Pod visitation – Sunday 1300-1400 hrs.
J Pod visitation – Saturday 1500-1600 hrs. for last names beginning with A-L
J Pod visitation – Sunday 2000-2100 hrs. for last names beginning with M-Z
B, D, and G Pod will not have visitation due to quarantine.

Intake will have visitation Saturday 1200-1300 – both males and females IF there is someone eligible and not on quarantine.

On-site video visit procedure:

• Arrive at the designated time wearing a mask/facial covering. The face mask/covering must be worn while in the lobby and while in the visitation booth.
• Step to the Corrections window to check in with proper photo ID – the officer will ask you to lower your mask so that proper identification can be made.
• You will be assigned a booth number to go to.
• Sanitizing spray and paper towels will be in the visitation area, please use them to disinfect the phone and booth area before your visit.
• You must limit the number of people in the visitation booth to one at a time. 
• Once the visit is complete, disinfect to clean the phone and booth area after your visit.

Remote video visitation – Remote visits allow friends and family to stay connected with an inmate using their smartphone or computer. Rates are the same as a phone call. Each video visit may last up to 25 minutes. Inmates may have one remote visit per day. 

Remote video visiting hours are: 9:00 am to 10:55 am, 11:30 am to 2:25 pm, 3:00 pm to 4:55 pm, and 7:00 pm to 10:25 pm.

Any type of provocative or disruptive behavior will not be permitted. No pictures of any type will be allowed during the video visit session; no recording, no screenshots, and no photo taking.

No NUDITY, provocative clothing, or tight-fitting clothing will be allowed during the video visit. Violations of these rules will result in loss of video visitation privileges.

Attorney Visits
Attorneys and paralegals may visit detainees anytime, seven days a week/24 hours a day. Call (440) 279-2009 extension 4411 for special instructions.

Consular Visits
Consular officials are allowed to meet with their detained nationals at any time, seven days a week. Whenever possible, arrangements should be made with the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer in advance of the visit. All consular officials should bring appropriate credentials. 

You may call the ICE Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer in charge of Geauga County Safety Center at (216) 535-0368.

Clergy Visits
Clergy are allowed to visit detainees housed at Geauga County Safety Center at any time. Arrangements must be made in advance with the Chaplain’s Office. Call (440) 279-2009 extension 4411 for special instructions.

All detainee mail must include the last four digits of their Alien number, plus the sender’s name and address. The staff at Geauga County Safety Center does not read detainee mail, but they do screen for contraband. Mail be never be withheld as punishment or unduly delayed. 

The following will not be accepted into the jail:

• Mail with any of the following on it:  glitter, glue, lipstick, perfume, stickers, labels, tape, or any unknown item
• Cards that have layers such as cellophane
• COD and postage due mail
• Packages 
• Reading material, envelopes, and stamps will not be accepted. The jail provides reading materials to the inmates (books, magazines, newspapers, etc.).

Sending Packages

Detainees are not allowed to receive care packages. However, they may receive necessary travel items when scheduled for transfer or release from agency custody, with approval of the ICE Deportation Officer.  Before sending a package, Contact the Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer for Geauga County Safety Center via the Cleveland ERO Office at (216) 535-0368.

Detainees who are being removed from the United States are allowed to have one small piece of luggage. You can send the luggage and travel items after getting approval from the Supervisory Deportation Officer. For security reasons, you are not allowed to send electronic devices (cell phones, electric razors, laptop computers, radios, etc.).

How to Call an Inmate

You can't call a detainee at Geauga County Safety Center. But, if you need to contact a detainee you can leave a message by calling (440) 279-2009. Your message will be given to the detainee. It must include their full name, alien registration number, and a telephone number where you can be reached.

How to Send Money

To send money to a detainee at Geauga County Safety Center, you can mail a money order directly to the facility. Do not send cash or checks.

Mail the money order to:
Geauga County Safety Center
Detainee Name/Alien Number
12450 Merritt Road
Chardon, OH 44024
United States

When a detainee receives money in the mail, a mailroom officer takes it to the processing area and puts it into their account. The processing officer will provide a receipt for all funds received. 

Money can also be deposited into an inmate’s account via the kiosk in the lobby or by the website www.JailATM.com. 

To Post a Delivery Bond

When a person has been taken into ICE custody and placed into removal proceedings while they are in the United States, a delivery bond may be posted. When you post a delivery bond, you are required to show proof of identity.

Bonds for aliens detained by ICE can be posted at ICE ERO bond acceptance offices nationwide, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., local time. For a list of ICE ERO bond acceptance offices nearest you or for bond information, click here. You must have the last name of the detainee and their alien registration number before calling. 

Acceptable forms of payment are: 

• money orders
• cashier’s checks 
• certified checks

Payments must be made payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” or “Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

Programs For Inmates

Active Parenting: This program is divided up into six sessions: Teaching Respect and Participation, Cooperation and Communication, Responsibility and Discipline, Self Esteem and Courage, Understanding and Redirecting Misbehavior, and Active Parenting for School Success. 

Adult Basic Education: Inmates can study to obtain their GED (General Equivalency Diploma). 

Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous: 12 step programs on alcoholism and drug related problems.

Church/Religious Services: Detainees may attend religious services, bible study, and may also get spiritual assistance from the jail chaplain. 

Library: Located in the indoor recreation room, inmates can get and/or exchange books.

Life Skills: This program is designed to help inmates receive life skills and job training ranging from how to obtain identification, how to fill out a job application, proper dress, how to interview, and financial skills. Participants are also taught communication skills, coping strategies, stress management, conflict resolution, problem solving, and self care.

Pictures of Geauga County Safety Center

Careers at Geauga County Safety Center

If you are interested in a career with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and would like more information about job openings at Geauga County Safety Center, click here.