Why Census Counts Matter for Families of Southeast Ohio Regional Jail Inmates

The Census Bureau counts incarcerated people as residents of the facility where they're held on Census Day - not their home address. Critics say this clashes with the Census concept of "usual residence," the place where someone actually lives and maintains connections. When a person's family, daily life, and community ties are all in one place, but they get counted somewhere else because they happened to be in jail on a single day, the numbers end up reflecting the jail's location rather than where they really belong.

This isn't just a paperwork issue - it can shift political power. Legislative districts are drawn to have equal populations. When a jail population gets added to the district containing the facility, that district gains extra influence compared to areas without a correctional facility. The area around the jail looks "more populated" for redistricting, even though many of those counted there can't vote and may have no real connection to that community.

Advocates push for counting people at their home addresses partly because jail stays are often short. Many people in local jails are away from home for just a few days - national research puts the average stay at about 23 days. Counting someone as a resident of a facility during a temporary hold feels disconnected from reality. Their "usual residence" is still the community where their family lives, their mail arrives, and their life continues.

Transfers complicate things further. National data shows nearly 75% of incarcerated people are moved between facilities before release. The facility where someone happens to be on Census Day may not be where they were held before - or where they'll end up next. Using a single day's location to assign "residence" is a poor fit for what the Census is supposed to measure.

For Southeast Ohio-area families, this comes down to representation. When people at Southeast Ohio Regional Jail are counted at the jail instead of home, the district containing the facility gains population for redistricting - and that translates into extra political influence. Meanwhile, the neighborhoods and towns where incarcerated people actually come from lose population in the count, weakening their voice when district lines are drawn. You won't see this on any bill, but it shapes whose concerns get more attention over the next decade.

1. Look at how your local districts were drawn - Find your city, county, and state legislative district maps and any redistricting summaries from the last cycle.
2. Ask whether incarcerated people were counted at the jail for local redistricting - A direct question to local officials (city or county) can clarify whether the jail population affected local district population totals.
3. Check for local policies that adjust the count - Across the country, more than a hundred counties and municipalities have chosen to manually remove prison populations before drawing local government districts.
4. Share your perspective in public comment or community meetings - If your community is discussing district lines, budgets, or representation, your lived experience can help keep the focus on where people actually have ties and families.
5. Connect with organizations working on prison-based gerrymandering - Many advocacy groups track these policies and can help you understand what’s possible in your area.