The Summit County Jail was the first large county jail in the State of Ohio to operate using "direct supervision" management. In this setting, deputy personnel are locked inside inmate housing areas to maintain order and control. All housing units are designed to provide optimum visibility by deputies in order to monitor inmate behavior and protect staff and inmates from assault. All personnel who frequently access inmate housing areas carry radios to enhance personal safety.

The jail is operated using state of the art security and surveillance equipment including over 100 closed circuit television cameras and various computerized door controls and alarm systems. The "booking and release" process utilizes computer technology for video imaging for "mug shots", an electronic inkless fingerprint system, and the inmate management information system. Aside from the advanced technology available to staff, the key elements to the effective management of the jail are use of good communication skills, and continuing training and education in modern methods of inmate management.

The day-to-day operation of the Summit County Jail is very similar to the operation of a small city. The inmates are totally reliant upon the staff of the facility for their every day needs and care from basic nourishment, mental health, and medical care to supplies for personal hygiene. There are rules established for inmates to follow and when they are violated; the inmates are disciplined through loss of privileges and "lockdown" time in their cells. Inmates that damage or destroy county property are required to pay restitution and/or are charged criminally. The Summit County Jail is also a non-smoking facility.

The Summit County Jail has been in operation since August 5, 1990. The capacity of the facility when opened was 402 inmates.

During recent years, changes in the operation of the Summit County Jail were made as follows:

• In September 1994, the Common Pleas Court approved double bunking in 48 cells on Unit 3 to avoid overcrowding. Double bunking was permitted only when the population reached the court-approved maximum. This increased the capacity to four hundred fifty (450) inmates.
• In May 1995, a new addition to the jail was opened. The expansion, which replaced the Akron Correctional Facility (formerly operated by the City of Akron and known as the "Workhouse"), allowed for the merging of the Akron Correctional Facility inmates into the population of the Crosier Street Facility. The expansion added one hundred twenty-eight (128) beds and increased the jail capacity to five hundred seventy-eight (578) inmates.
• In August 2002, the Bureau of Adult Detention approved adding 10 beds on the Trusty (Inmate Worker) pod to take the capacity to 588.
• In June 2005, the County and Bureau of Adult Detention both agreed on the double bunking of lower classification inmates, adding 72 beds, and an additional 11 beds for the female housing dorms to take the overall capacity to 671.

The Chief of Corrections is responsible for the overall operation of the facility. A Shift Commander is in charge of each shift and responsible for the day-to-day operation. There are sergeants present on each shift, who are under the direction of the Shift Commander. Each Sergeant is responsible for the supervision of deputies assigned throughout the facility.

Support Services staff provide state mandated services in the jail that include mental health treatment, food services, programming (e.g. religious services, educational programming, physical exercise, etc. ) and medical treatment. A medical “co-pay” system is employed at the jail whereby inmates are charged fees for medical treatment provided. The jail utilizes many volunteers from the community as well as numerous social services agencies within the county to assist in the provision of support services.

Central Control is the "nerve center" of the facility. The deputies assigned to operate this area control the facility's communication systems and monitor all movement throughout the facility. The movement is controlled by monitoring various closed circuit television cameras located both inside and outside the facility.

 The Intake area is the main receiving and release area of the facility. The Intake area is where a prisoner is first introduced to the facility. The prisoner is booked, fingerprinted, photographed, showered, and changed into a jail uniform. Inmates that are being taken to court or transported from this facility to another facility also exit through this area.

The Property Room is the next step in the process. After a prisoner has been showered and changed into a jail uniform, all of his personal property and clothing is inventoried and stored until his release. All money is put into an account established in the inmate's name.

The facility uses an "objective" inmate classification system to determine housing assignments based on inmates’ tendencies for violence or nonviolence. All inmates are classified at the time of booking according to the severity of their current crime and their criminal history. The inmates are then housed according to their classification. Also taken into consideration for classification are past behavior problems, medical and mental health concerns, or other special needs. During their stay in the facility, inmate behavior is constantly monitored and, if necessary, inmates will be reclassified to a higher or lower classification in the facility. High risk and some medium security risk inmates are housed in individual cells. Many medium and low risk inmates are housed two to a cell or in dormitories.

During peak activity periods, there are deputies that are assigned as movement officers. These officers are responsible for the movement of all inmates throughout the facility. During a normal day, inmates may be moved for: programs, medical and mental health care, video court, transportation outside of the facility (for court or transfer to another facility), a conference with their attorney, an interview by another agency, etc.

Inmate workers (i.e. low risk offenders sentenced to the jail) assist with facility cleaning, kitchen operation, and laundry. Deputies are assigned to supervise these work details. Those deputies are also responsible for ordering and maintaining the supplies and equipment necessary to operate the Crosier Street Facility twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven days a week. The jail laundry is open sixteen (16) hours a day, Monday through Friday and is operated by civilian staff. Uniforms are exchanged and laundered twice a week. Inmate linens and towels are exchanged each week and blankets are exchanged every two weeks.

An integral part of the operation of the Sheriff's Office and Crosier Street Facility is the Research and Development team. The deputies that are assigned to this unit are responsible for continually reviewing and updating the policies and procedures. This is accomplished by reviewing different phases of the facility operation and making whatever changes necessary to improve it. Research and Development deputies also administrate the various computer systems utilized in the jail, assist in training other staff, and plan renovation and new construction.