By Kathy Mellott
The Tribune-Democrat
EBENSBURG – Kurt Wolford’s new movie is not going to be a Hollywood classic, but it was useful and fun to make all the same.
The corrections officer at the Cambria County Prison has spent the past several months developing a video that will be shown to all new inmates checking into the jail.
Wolford developed the script for the production, then enlisted the help of some of his fellow corrections officers for the 28-minute orientation DVD that outlines policies and procedures at the 500-bed facility.
He invested hundreds of hours of his own time.
The result is a modern, easy-to-understand video that officials hope will make the transition smooth for those coming to stay at the jail.
“It was really a fun project for me,” said Wolford, who is the son of former Cambria Warden William Wolford.
“I utilized other staff members and it came out pretty good,” he said.
In the opinion of current Warden John Prebish, the DVD is a whole lot more than pretty good – and it saved the county an estimated $10,000 over the cost of a professional production.
“He did a beautiful job. I was impressed,” Prebish said. “This is a guy who just loves his job.”
‘A lot has changed’
Pennsylvania state law requires that every person brought to a prison must be made fully aware of laws and rules regulating their incarceration, as well as all policies and procedures of the individual lockdown, so they know their rights and what is expected of them, Prebish said.
New inmates have been viewing a video prepared by a professional production company dating back to 1996, when the old prison in Ebensburg was shuttered and the new one in Cambria Township activated.
“As you can imagine, a lot has changed since that time,” Prebish said. “State laws have changed, certain things we do have changed.”
Much progress has come in technology over the past two decades, requiring enhancements such as updated instructions and regulations for inmates using the telephone, Prebish said.
Issues regarding counseling services have changed, as have meal times.
Some of the biggest changes include the new booking center, in place for more than a year.
Wolford’s video provides new guidelines for fingerprinting and a host of other procedures, the warden said.
In addition to local changes, the new statewide prison elimination act is aimed at reducing and eliminating sexual assaults among inmates – an area that significantly increases the responsibility of prison staff.
The act strives to make it easier for inmates to report sexual assaults, with the stipulation that they be afforded privacy when making the reports.
‘Endless hours editing’
Wolford said he spent a full week at the prison filming many hours with staff dressed as inmates and playing the roles of corrections officers.
Then came the real work.
“It was endless hours editing the film,”?he said.
Wolford estimated that for every minute of action on the DVD, he edited an hour and a half of film.
Hired as a per diem employee in 2008 and moved into a full-time corrections post in 2009, Wolford has earned the designation of lieutenant. He was recognized by the Cambria County commissioners late last week for his efforts.
Officials described him as having excellent communication and technology skills, which he put to use for the benefit of the county and the prison.
“He took it upon himself to do his own video, and it was a ton of work,” said President Commissioner Douglas Lengenfelder.
Christian Smith, deputy warden of operations, said the prison was initially planning to begin using the new orientation DVD with the new year. But the video was ready sooner.
“We’re already starting to use it,” Smith said.