A Cuyahoga County judge intends to crusade for stricter deterrents against sex between patients at a state-run mental hospital.

Judge Nancy Margaret Russo called officials from the Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare facility to Common Pleas Court on Thursday to question them about their handling of a mentally ill Shaker Heights woman who the judge sent for treatment last year.

Russo said she was shocked to learn the 33-year-old woman received birth-control pills and counseling after she was caught having sex three times with two other patients at the facility.Russo questioned Dr. Joy Stankowski, a Northcoast psychiatrist, who said some patients are mentally competent to engage in sexual relationships.

"I am appalled that you think sex is a freedom they deserve," Russo said. "I believe it's a betrayal of the trust I placed in you" to treat the mentally ill woman.

In its policy statement, Northcoast acknowledges that sexual behavior between patients at the hospital, while discouraged, is "not always harmful or possible to prevent."

Russo said she plans to send a transcript of the hearing to Gov. Ted Strickland and to the Ohio Department of Mental Health, which overseas the Northcoast facility.

Russo also ordered the woman not to engage in sex at the hospital again, and ordered the staff to enforce her restrictions.

"I don't care if they tell you it's OK to have a boyfriend," Russo told the woman. "I'm telling you it's not."

Northcoast spokeswoman Amy Cooper said officials there are open to reforms.

"We stand united with the judge," Cooper said, "and we are more than happy to discuss any of our policies with her."