By Mark Gilger
The News-Item
SHAMOKIN, Pa. — Magisterial district judges in Northumberland County will incarcerate only defendants who commit serious crimes and pose a danger to their communities so the court system can operate more efficiently in the wake of Wednesday’s fire at Northumberland County Prison that forced 208 inmates to be housed at state correctional institutions.
The four magistrates met with President Judge William H. Wiest Friday to develop a plan that will save the county money and time by only sending criminals to jail who deserve to be locked up.
In addition to committing less inmates to prison, other methods were discussed at the meeting to help the county cope with losing the prison. They included placing more inmates on house arrest while lowering the cost of the program, and having correctional officers who lost their jobs as a result of the fire transport prisoners being housed at SCI-Coal Township and SCI-Muncy to and from their arraignments, preliminary hearings and legal proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas in Sunbury.
Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones of Mount Carmel said the fire at the 139-year-old prison was a “tragedy” that forced the commissioners and prison board to make a quicker decision on securing a new housing facility for inmates that has been sorely needed for years.
“Ultimately, it’s up to the commissioners to decide the location of a new prison,” Jones said. “On the bright side of things, having a new facility will eliminate some of the many problems that have occurred at the county jail in the past 30 years, including multiple lawsuits.”
Jones, who is running for county judge this year, and Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III of Shamokin said the county should consider a site that allows for expansion in the future.
Gembic, who has been in office 15 years, said, “I would like to see the prison rebuilt in an area that would allow for expansion so inmates from federal prisons and other facilities could be housed there. That way, the county can make a profit.”
He added, “The county can’t take a stop-gap approach to this. The commissioners must do the right thing that will be best for everyone 50 years down the road. They must look at the cost factor involved with the different options versus the income that could be generated by being able to house inmates from other jails.”
Jones, Gembic and Magisterial District Judge Michael Diehl of Milton vowed to help the county’s court system in any way possible and praised the efforts of everyone involved in battling the disastrous fire that resulted in no serious injuries.
Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Apfelbaum of Sunbury, who also reportedly endorses the ideas discussed at the meeting, was unavailable for comment Sunday.
“I’m impressed by all the county agencies that came together in dealing with the fire,” Jones said. “The most important thing is no one got killed or seriously injured.”
Diehl added, “We are all thankful nobody was hurt in the fire and I’m impressed by how all the county departments, inmates, staff, administrators, police, firefighters and emergency personnel came together to make the best of a bad situation. The magisterial district judges are more than willing to do our part in helping the county any way we can. We won’t put someone in jail who doesn’t absolutely belong there.”
Diehl called using correctional officers rather than local police to transport county inmates to and from their court proceedings a “win-win situation.” “It not only keeps prison guards employed, but relieves the burden from local police officers who now can remain on the streets patrolling their communities,” he said.
Jones and Gembic also agreed with using correctional officers to transport defendants and endorsed an offer by local architect Penn Seiple to develop a facility that would serve as a holding cell capable of housing 10 to 15 inmates until their arraignments.
Jones said the holding cell at the county prison proved very successful since being established last year.
“The magistrates will look harder at each case and not incarcerate people if they aren’t a threat to the public. But sometimes, there is no other alternative than jail,” Jones said.
Wiest previously said the case status of each Northumberland County inmate will be reviewed by adult probation officials to find anyone eligible for release from temporary housing at state prisons.
The state isn’t charging the county any fees for the first 28 days, but that is expected to change over time. In turn, county officials would like to lower the population through release or transfer to neighboring counties’ facilities.
Nine county inmates were released Friday - seven for parole and two who went to a rehab center, said Jim Cortelyou, chief probation officer. He expects up to six more will be released today.
Wiest said the cost of house arrest could be lessened to increase eligibility for qualifying inmates. Currently, the cost is $15 a day.
Ultimately, it’s up to the county judges to modify any inmate’s sentence.
Although an official determination hasn’t been given, Sunbury Fire Chief Ken Kipple said Friday an insurance adjuster is leaning toward ruling the county prison a total loss.
The 172 male prisoners were transferred to SCI-Coal Township and the 36 female inmates to SCI-Muncy.
To make room, some state inmates were relocated inside the Coal Township prison, while 198 were transferred to SCI-Graterford, according to Susan Bensinger, Department of Corrections (DOC) deputy press secretary.
State employees are currently staffed in E block, where the county prisoners are being held. It’s a self-contained housing unit, allowing for the county inmates to be fed and have recreation outdoors without direct interaction with state prisoners. County officials plan to consult with the DOC and union leaders to potentially allow county prison employees to work at the state facilities.