Bedford Heights City Jail

Bedford Heights City Jail Information

The Bedford Heights City Jail in Ohio: A Look Inside the Facility

The Bedford Heights City Jail first opened its doors in 1995 in Bedford Heights, Ohio. Owned and operated by the City of Bedford Heights, this correctional facility can house a maximum of 155 inmates, with up to 75 of those beds allotted for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees specifically. 

## A Brief History of the Jail

The Bedford Heights City Jail began operating in 1995 under the management of the City of Bedford Heights. For the first 14 years, it served only the local community, housing inmates arrested and detained within the city. 

In April 2009, the jail entered into an Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) with ICE and its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arm. This allowed the facility to also house ICE detainees awaiting hearings or deportation. Both male and female ICE detainees of all security classification levels are accepted.

## Inmate Services and Information

Inmates at the Bedford Heights City Jail have access to various services and privileges. Phones are available for detainees to make calls to approved friends and family members. 

To set up a phone account, the outside contact must enroll with Securus Technologies, choose a billing option, and connect the account to the specific inmate. All calls are recorded and monitored. 

The jail's physical address is 5661 Perkins Road, Bedford Heights, OH 44146. Visiting hours are daily from 9am to 6pm. Visitors must be approved in advance and follow the dress code.

Inmates can receive letters and postcards mailed to the facility. Packages are not allowed due to the short-term nature of stays. Money can be deposited into an inmate's account for commissary purchases through a lobby kiosk.

## Daily Life for Inmates

Daily life inside the Bedford Heights City Jail varies somewhat depending on an inmate's security classification level. Lower threat detainees (Level I) generally have more freedoms and privileges. Higher threat inmates (Level III) face more restrictions and tighter supervision.

A typical day may involve scheduled meal times, recreation hours, personal hygiene, and access to TV, reading materials, or telephones. Detainees are locked in their cells at night. Schedules and routines provide structure but can also become monotonous.

Recreation and exercise options include a small workout room, indoor gym, and outdoor recreation area. Meals are served in a dining hall three times a day. Inmates have access to toilets/sinks and scheduled showers. Basic hygiene items are provided.

## Medical Care and Mental Health Services 

Medical care at the Bedford Heights Jail is provided by the City of Bedford Heights. The medical clinic is staffed by licensed practical nurses (LPNs) on weekdays from 8am to 5pm. A physician serves as the designated clinical authority and is available on-site once a week. This doctor is also on-call 24/7 for any emergencies.

Mental health and addiction services are contracted through Recovery Resources. Counselors and specialists provide services on an as-needed basis determined by assessments.

The clinic can dispense prescription medications for preexisting conditions. Basic first aid and over-the-counter medicines are available for minor injuries and illnesses. Detainees requiring advanced care are transported to hospitals. Extra COVID-19 precautions are taken, including testing of all new intakes.

## Additional Facility Details 

The majority of the Bedford Heights Jail was constructed in 1995, with an expansion built in 2009 when the ICE contract began. The main building has 3 floors with administrative offices, multiple cell blocks, special housing units, a booking area, control center, cafeteria, and recreational spaces. 

The average daily population is around 115 inmates, although the total capacity is 155. Recent facility upgrades include repainting of cells, improved lighting fixtures, and new security cameras. Long-term plans involve potential renovation of one housing unit.

## How to Locate an Inmate

If you need to find or access info on a current detainee, you can search the online jail roster or call 440-439-1234. Arrest records, criminal charges, and case statuses can also be looked up through websites like the [Auglaize County Criminal Court Case Search](https://auglaizecountycriminalcourtcasesearch.com). 

Basic inmate demographics, charges, bail amounts, and booking details are public. However, personal or medical information may require special approval to obtain.

## Summary of the Bedford Heights City Jail

Overall, the Bedford Heights City Jail provides adequate accommodations given its older design. While not overly comfortable, the facility meets basic needs in terms of living conditions, nutrition, and healthcare. The staff maintain safe and orderly operations.

Compared to some other regional detention centers, Bedford Heights has lower reported incident rates and fewer complaints about excessive disciplinary tactics. Detainees have access to necessary services and communication options to the extent possible.

If you have any other questions about the jail that were not covered here, you can contact the facility directly through the provided phone number or address. Keeping open communication is key to ensuring transparency and accountability.

## Frequently Asked Questions About the Facility

Here are some common questions people researching the Bedford Heights City Jail may have:

**What types of inmates are housed at this jail?**

The jail houses pre-trial detainees from the local area arrested on city or county charges. It also holds ICE detainees going through immigration proceedings, including both men and women of all security levels.

**Are family or friend visits allowed?**

Yes, visitors are allowed daily from 9am-6pm but must be approved and on an inmate's list. Proper dress code must be followed. Visits are non-contact only.

**Can inmates get released early?** 

Inmates held on local charges can be released if they make bail/bond or complete their sentence. ICE detainees are released upon resolution of immigration case, often after posting bond.

**What items can be mailed to inmates?**

Letters and postcards can be sent. No packages are allowed due to short inmate stays. Magazines and books must be shipped direct from publisher.

**How does commissary ordering work?**

Friends or family can deposit money into an inmate's account via lobby kiosk. Inmates can then order approved items weekly from commissary list.

**Are special medical or religious diets accommodated?**

The jail provides standard meals meeting nutritional guidelines, with limited accommodations for religious/medical needs if verified.

Phone: 440-786-3254

Physical Address:
Bedford Heights City Jail
5661 Perkins Road
Bedford Heights, OH 44146

Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & A-Number
Bedford Heights City Jail
5661 Perkins Road
Bedford Heights, OH 44146

Other Jails and Prisons

Search Bedford Heights City Jail Inmates

Search Bedford Heights City Jail Inmates

How Do You Find Someone in the Bedford Heights City Jail?

How to Find Someone in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detainee Locator

When someone that is not a US Citizen gets arrested in the United States, and they are here illegally, depending on what state or city they are arrested in, the person may be turned over to ICE. 

Many states such as New York and California, as well as hundreds of US cities, have declared themselves 'sanctuary cities' and do not turn over foreigners here illegally, even if they are committing crimes in their jurisdiction.

However, when an alien here illegally is turned over to ICE, and sent to one of the over 100 Immigration Detention Centers in the United States, the only way to try and locate where they are being detained is using the Online Detainee Locator System.


There are two ways to search for an ICE Detainee:

You can look them up using their assigned A-Number.

  • An A-Number is a 9-digit number that either looks like this: A-123456789, or like this 123-456-789. This is required if you do not know their name.
    It is also called a Registration Number when on a visa, or a USCIS# when on a Green Card.
    If for whatever reason the A-Number you have does not have 9-digits, you need to add 0s (zeroes) to the front of the number until the number has 9-digits.

    That number might then look like this:  001234567.


You can also try and look them up by using their name.

  • In order for this to be effective, you need to have the exact name that is either on their paperwork, or the the name with the exact spelling that they gave ICE. This is required.
  • You also need to know the country of their birth, or the country of their birth that they gave ICE. This is required.
  • Knowing their Date of Birth is helpful but not required to find them in the system.


Important things to know about using the ICE Detainee Locator

  • You do not need to set up an account to use the Detainee Locator System.
  • A-Number stands for 'Alien Registration Number'.
  • The System does not have information on all detainees in custody.
  • Juvenile names are NOT in the System.
  • The Detainee Locator System is updated every 8 hours, sometimes sooner.
  • If the detainee is being moved to a new facility, the new location will not be shown until they have arrived and are processed. 
  • No warnings or prior notice are given in advance of a detainee being moved.
  • While being transferred to a different facility they may still be shown online as being in the original facility.
  • If you are planning a visit, always call before you come to confirm the detainee is still at the facility and has not been moved.
  • To visit a detainee you must have some type of government issued photo ID, or other identification when photo identification is unavailable for religious reasons.
  • If you are unable to find the detainee using the System, contact the ICE Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in the area where you believe the person's immigration case was initiated or the Detainee Reporting and Information Line (DRIL) at 888-351-4024.

Pamphlets in various languages with Instructions on how to use the Online Detainee Locator System:

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Directions / Map to the Bedford Heights City Jail
Understanding US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

What is an ICE Detention Center?

Men, women, and children that are in the United States illegally and are apprehended by the US Border Patrol or ICE will most likely be placed in removal proceedings and may be detained in one of the more than 200 jails and detention centers that make up ICE’s detention system.

Many of the illegal immigrants that are detained are held in county and local jails that contract with ICE to detain immigrants. The rest are held in dedicated immigration detention facilities run by ICE or contracted to private prison corporations, including family detention centers that hold mothers and children.

What Determines if an Illegal Immigrant gets Detained?

ICE will typically detain an immigrant because DHS (Homeland Security) believes that an illegal immigrant is either a “flight risk” and may move to another location within the U.S. or that they pose a public safety threat. Detaining the person allows the government to guarantee that the person will show up for their hearing before an Immigration Court.

Some of the reasons that causes an illegal immigrant to get arrested and held in detention prior to their day in court is as follows:

The illegal immigrant has:

  • committed a crime, or multiple crimes
  • arrived at the border without a visa prior to formally applying for asylum or refugee status
  • an outstanding removal (deportation) order on record, either pending or past due, or
  • missed prior immigration hearing dates.

 

How do you find someone that is in an ICE Detention Center?

The first step to finding out if an illegal immigrant is in ICE or DHS custody is by using the ICE Detainee Locator.

It’s easier to find the person if you have an Alien Number (A#), if one exists. A green card or work permit will show this number. If you don’t have an A# the person is much more difficult to locate.

The information you will need is as follows:

  • the person’s full name as it appears in the ICE System. The exact spelling and the order of how the name is listed is required.
  • the person’s date of birth
  • the person’s country of birth

If you are having difficulty, try different spellings and the order of how the name is listed.

If the illegal immigrant was only recently detained, the ICE Detainee Locator may not be updated with the latest information. Keep in mind that ICE does not give information (online or over the phone) for people under 18 years of age. In such cases, you can only get information on them from the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations field office nearest you.

If the person you are looking for is not in an ICE Detention Center, they may have been taken to a local jail that contracts with ICE, so contact their local City and County Jail, all which can be found here.

Another option, short of the expense of hiring an Immigration Lawyer, is to go to this website and use their online form to get their help.

Once an illegal immigrant is located and you find out the facility where they are being held you need to find out the Deportation Officer that has been assigned to their case. The Officer can tell you how to call or visit the detainee, or pay for the detainee to be able to call you, or how you can send any needed items such as clothing, prescriptions, etc.

The last option, and the most expensive, is to hire an experienced immigration attorney to assist you in tracking down the Deportation Officer. If the person being detained requires specific medical care, an attorney can ensure that they receive that care.

If the detained illegal immigrant has been deported from America previously or has an outstanding removal order - in which case they have no right to see an immigration judge - they can be removed within a few days, or even hours, of the initial arrest.

Even if the government does not immediately remove the person, it is possible that they can be moved around to different Detention Centers. There is never a warning that a person is being moved around and during the transfer there is a complete blackout of any information.

How long are people held in ICE Immigration Detention Centers?

The time that an illegal immigrant is held in an ICE Detention Center can vary. It all depends on several factors such as the individual’s personal situation, criminal record, the severity of the crime they are being charged with, previous deportations and the current caseload that the Detention Center is dealing with.

This image portrays the most recent data available on the time a detained illegal immigrant remains in custody before their release and/or deportation.

Can you visit someone in ICE Detention Centers?

The short answer is yes. The person visiting an illegal immigrant in an ICE Detention Center must be lawfully present in the United States. In other words the visitor must have some form of currently valid immigration status at the time of the visit. A detention center or jail will not allow the visit unless visitor can show valid I.D. and offer proof that they are lawfully in the United States.

If you want to become a volunteer that visits illegal immigrants in order to offer emotional support, it may be possible. You can join one of these visitation networks by going here and contacting the network in your area.

What crimes can cause an illegal immigrant to be deported?

(The following information comes from Nolo.com, a trusted legal resource)

  • Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude (see list). This includes any attempt or conspiracy to commit such a crime. It does not include crimes that were committed that the illegal immigrant committed when they were under the age of 18 years, however the person must have been released from jail more than five years before applying for a visa or other immigration benefit. It also does not include crimes for which the maximum penalty did not exceed one year in prison and the person was not, in fact, sentenced to more than six months in prison.
  • Conviction or admission of a controlled substance violation, whether under U.S. or foreign law. This includes any conspiracy to commit such a crime.
  • Convictions for two or more crimes (other than purely political ones) for which the prison sentences totaled at least five years. This multiple-offense ground of inadmissibility applies whether or not the convictions came from a single trial and whether or not the offenses arose from a single scheme of misconduct or involved moral turpitude.
  • Conviction of or participation in (according to the reasonable belief of the U.S. government) controlled substance trafficking. This includes anyone who knowingly aided, abetted, assisted, conspired, or colluded in illicit drug trafficking. It also includes the spouse, son, or daughter of the inadmissible applicant if that person has, within the last five years, received any financial or other benefit from the illicit activities, and knew or reasonably should have known where the money or benefit came from.
  • Having the purpose of engaging in prostitution or commercialized vice upon coming to the United States, or a history, within the previous ten years, of having engaged in prostitution.
  • Procurement or attempted procurement or importation of prostitutes, directly or indirectly, or receipt of proceeds of prostitution, any of which occurred within the previous ten years.
  • Assertion of immunity from prosecution after committing a serious criminal offense in the U.S., if the person was thus able to depart the U.S. and has not since submitted fully to the jurisdiction of the relevant U.S. Court.
  • Commission of particularly severe violations of religious freedom while serving as a foreign government official.
  • Commission of or conspiracy to commit human trafficking offenses, within or outside the U.S., or being a knowing aider, abettor, assister, conspirator, or colluder with such a trafficker according to the knowledge or reasonable belief of the U.S. government. Also inadmissible are the spouse, son, or daughter the applicant if they, within the previous five years (but when older than children), received financial or other benefits from the illicit activity and knew or reasonably should have known that the money or other benefit came from the illicit activity.
  • Conviction of an aggravated felony, if the person was removed from the U.S. and seeks to return (this ground of inadmissibility lasts for 20 years)
  • Seeking to enter the U.S. to engage in money laundering, or a history of having laundered money, or having been (according to the knowledge of the U.S. government) a knowing aider, abettor, assister, conspirator, or colluder with money launderers.

These are the straightforward crimes that are mentioned in the immigration law. The statute also lists a number of security violations, such as involvement in espionage, sabotage, terrorism, Nazi persecution, totalitarian parties, and so forth.

Once an illegal immigrant is deported, how long before they can come back to the United States?

If an illegal immigrant has a deportation or removal order in their immigration file, it's possible that they won’t be allowed to enter the U.S. for five, ten, or even 20 years.

The applicable law comes from Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (I.N.A.).

Five-Year Ban: If they were summarily removed or deported upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry because they were found inadmissible, or if they came to the U.S. but were immediately put into removal proceedings and then removed or deported, they may be ineligible to return to the U.S. for five years. The five-year ban also applies if they failed to show up for their removal hearing in the United States.

Ten-Year Ban: If a ‘removal order’ was issued at the conclusion of their removal hearing in Immigration Court, they may not be able to return for ten years after their removal or departure.

Twenty-Year Ban: If they were convicted of an aggravated felony or have received more than one order of removal, they are barred from returning to the U.S. for 20 years. And if they entered without permission after having been removed, or illegally reentered the U.S. after having previously been in the U.S. unlawfully for more than one year, they may be barred from entering the United States for 20 years or permanently.

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This facility, known as "Bedford Heights City Jail" is also known as ICE Detention Facility, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.