Judge finds prison crowded

From First Page

a cell was forced on the state by a huge jump in the prison population, Ashley said.

In January 1974,. the state was holding 7,800 prisoners. Last Monday, there were 13,097 inmates in the state's prisons.

Lucasville, which has 1,640 cells, is housing 2,300 prisoners. Some 1,400 prisoners are living two to a cell,

Hogan said in his ruling.

Christopher D. Stanley of Cleveland, one of six lawyers who represented the Lucasville prisoners in. the suit, contended the overcrowded conditions led to an increase in violence. Lucasville has been plagued by prisoner discontent since it opened. However, the court found violence at the prison was not out of proportion to the prison population.

In closing arguments at the hearing on the case, Stanley said Lucas-

ville breeds criminals. He contended prisoners were being sold to other prisoners for homosexual activity and many prisoners spent entire days in cells or in crowded day rooms.

The Ohio House Judiciary Com mittee has recommended passage of a $275 million bond issue to build 16 new prisons and upgrade existing institutions. The measure, which would raise the gallonage tax on liquor, is now in the House Rules Committee.