As of 2019, six high security death row inmates remain at OSP, four of whom were involved in the 1993 Lucasville prison riot at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.

Inmates placed in restricted housing for disciplinary rules infractions are locked down with the exception of showers, restrooms, and one recreation period of one hour, 5 days per week.

During its time of operation, the penitentiary hosted many notable prisoners including James H. Snook and the novelist O. Henry.

[citation needed] In January 2011, three men on Ohio's death row, Keith LaMar, Jason Robb and Carlos Sanders, held a twelve-day long hunger strike.

[4] Throughout the strike the three men met with the Warden to negotiate a signed agreement to their demands, which they received on January 14, 2011.