By Paul Singer
The Associated Press

AKRON - The warden of Ohio's supermaximum security prison acknowledged Monday that more than half of the inmates would be qualified to transfer to a lower-security prison. However, warden Todd Ishee said all of those inmates had volunteered to stay at the Ohio State Penitentiary despite its more severe restrictions.

Ishee testified at a hearing in response to accusations from inmates that the state is ignoring a judge's year-old ruling to create a clear process for determining when inmates should be transferred in and out of the Ohio State Penitentiary.

The state says it is following the orders but that prison officials need more leeway in handling the most dangerous prisoners.