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ICE detention facility · Ohio

Geauga County Safety Center

Detroit Field Office · 12450 Merritt Road, Chardon, OH 44024

Quick facts

Address
12450 Merritt Road, Chardon, OH 44024
Phone (to ask about someone held here)
(216) 535-0368
ICE field office
Detroit Field Office (field office contacts (opens in new tab))
Official page
ICE: Geauga County Safety Center (opens in new tab)
Find someone
ICE Online Detainee Locator (opens in new tab) · locator guide
Court case status
1-800-898-7180 (EOIR, 24 hours)

First: this is civil detention

ICE detention is civil, not a criminal sentence. There is no sentence to serve, so there are no sentence credits (good time) and no release date to calculate. Release depends on the immigration case: a bond, an immigration judge's decision, or an ICE decision.

There is no right to a free lawyer in immigration court. The law allows a lawyer "at no expense to the Government" (8 U.S.C. 1362 (opens in new tab)). Look for free or low-cost help on the EOIR list of pro bono providers (opens in new tab) and from accredited representatives (opens in new tab).

Watch for scams: a "notario" is not a lawyer in the U.S. Don't pay anyone who promises results. How to spot a scam.

General information, not legal advice. Every case is different.

Contacting someone held here

From the official ICE page, checked 2026-10-21. Rules change; confirm with the facility.

If you need information about a detainee that is housed at this facility, you may call (216) 535-0368 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. When you call, please have the individual’s biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases he or she may use, date of birth and country of birth.

Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. If you need to get in touch with a detainee to leave an urgent message, you must call (440) 279-2009 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number and your name and telephone number where you can be reached. The detainee will be given your message.

Visiting hours and rules

From the official ICE page, checked 2026-10-21. Rules change; confirm with the facility.

Friends and Family Visits

Hours will be posted in each housing unit on the kiosks and in the lobby. The hours are also available on the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office web site.

Video visits are available in general population housing units seven days a week, each inmate is permitted one 25 minutes video per day. All video visits must be scheduled at least 12 hours in advanced by going to the InmateSales web site. Onsite videos are also available at no cost, they also must be scheduled 12 hours in advance using the InmateSales web site.

See the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office website for rules on visitation.

Detainees are permitted to have 60 minutes of visitation per week in 30 minute increments.

Adult visitors must present a valid, verifiable government-issued identification card to enter the facility.

Minors who are visiting the facility must be accompanied by an adult guardian (18 years or older). Minors must not be left unaccompanied in the waiting room, visiting room or any other area.

Attorney Visits

Legal representatives of detainees are authorized to visit their clients during the following hours:

7 days a week with no restrictions with the exception of a facility emergency

Attorneys should call (440) 279-2009 extension 4411 for special instructions.

A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations will be posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas. This list shall be updated quarterly. If a detainee wishes to see a representative or paralegal from that organization, it is the detainee’s responsibility to contact them for an appointment.

Consular Visits

Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at any time. It is requested that prior arrangements be made with the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the facility. The ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer for this facility can be reached at (216) 535-0368.

Clergy Visits

Clergy may visit detainees at any time, but must make prior arrangements with the Chaplain’s Office.

Visiting Restrictions

All family or other social visits are Non-contact.

No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in the facility.

If visitors are or appear to be intoxicated, visitation will not be allowed.

All visitors are subject to search while in the facility.

Visitors are not allowed to pass or attempt to pass any items to detainees.

Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area.

Search Procedures (prior to or during all visitations)

All individuals requesting admittance to the facility or the visitation area are subject to a pat-down search of their person, an inspection of their belongings, and a metal scan search. Individuals refusing to cooperate with a reasonable search will not be admitted. No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility.

Money, mail and sending items

From the official ICE page, checked 2026-10-21. Rules change; confirm with the facility.

Letters sent to detainees must include the last four digits of the detainee’s A-number (File Number), plus the sender’s name and address. To enhance the safety of the facility, all incoming mail is subject to screening for contraband. The mail is not read upon opening, only inspected by the delivering officer. Detainees may send mail from the facility. Detainees may seal their outgoing letters and place them in the provided receptacle. All incoming mail will be scanned and delivered via the kiosk to the detainee and the original letter will be placed into the detainee’s property. Any outgoing mail will be routed to the proper postal office by the next business day. A mail pick-up and delivery schedule is posted in all housing units.

Detainees are allowed to purchase stamps for use. Generally, there is no limit to the amount of correspondence detainees may send at their own expense. Indigent detainees (those who have no means of financial support and no funds in their facility account) will be provided postage allowance at government expense.

When detainees depart the facility or are transferred to another facility, only their legal mail will be forwarded to them. General correspondence will be endorsed "Return to Sender" and returned to the post office.

If detainees receive funds in the mail, they will be taken to the processing area for the money to be placed into their account. The processing officer will provide a receipt for all funds received. Detainees are cautioned not to have cash sent to them in the mail.

A detainee may receive items that are determined to be of necessity for the sole purpose of travel or release from agency custody with approval of the ICE Deportation Officer. Before sending packages to detainees,

Contact the Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer at the facility at:

Cleveland ERO Office

(216) 535-0368

1240 E. 9th Street

Cleveland, OH, 44199

Note that detainees being removed from the United States are allowed one small piece of luggage. If a detainee does not have such baggage, such luggage can be sent/delivered after receiving approval from Supervisory Deportation Officer. Please be advised that for security reasons, no electronic devices (cell phones, electric razors, laptop computers, radios, etc.) will be accepted.

Source: ICE facility page (opens in new tab) and ICE detention facility list (opens in new tab). Not legal advice. Other facilities in Ohio · Legal help · Bond and court

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