BUTLER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CHAIR: Sheriff Putting National Politics Ahead of Local Safety

Sheriff Richard Jones Seeks “As Much Money As He Can Get” While His Jail Faces Abuse Allegations

Butler County, OH –  Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones is once again seeking national attention, this time by offering up the county jail to detain immigrants as part of Trump’s mass deportation agenda. When asked, on NBC Nightly News, how much money he’s receiving from Homeland Security for these detentions, Sheriff Jones responded, “as much as I can get.”

“This isn’t about protecting Butler County,” said Kathy Wyenandt, Chair of the Butler County Democratic Party. “It’s about money, power, and headlines—at the expense of families who are simply living their lives.”

Mass Detentions, Abuse Allegations, and a Pending Lawsuit

Jones’s decision comes as his jail faces a pending lawsuit alleging detainee abuse, including accusations of beatings and mistreatment by staff. Instead of focusing on making Butler County safer, he is choosing to expand policies that create fear, chaos, and family separation.

Immigration violations such as overstaying a visa are civil, not criminal, offenses—yet these ICE raids tear apart families, disrupt workplaces, and spread fear throughout communities. The Sheriff’s decision to expand his role in these mass deportation efforts prioritizes politics over public safety.

Butler County Deserves Better

Rather than addressing actual crime and community safety concerns, Sheriff Jones is using county resources to serve a national political agenda that does nothing to improve Butler County.

We need leadership that protects our communities from real threats—not a Sheriff who turns our jail into a profit-driven detention center.

About the Butler County Democratic Party

The Butler County Democratic Party is dedicated to championing working families, advocating for fair wages, accessible healthcare, and defending the rights of all citizens. We’re committed to making sure that opportunity and democracy are for everyone and holding elected officials to their word.  We want you to join us in this fight.  Together, we can make sure that the needs of everyday Ohioans in Butler County come first, and that no politician gets away with breaking their word.

For more information on how to get involved, please visit https://butlercountydems.org or contact us at (513) 896-5201. 

Every voice matters, and we need your help to fight for our rights.