By Mark Gilger
The News-Item
SUNBURY — A cost-benefit analysis will be conducted to determine if the county continues to use correctional officers to transport prisoners to and from legal proceedings or if constables will once again provide the services.
The analysis is scheduled to be completed in time for Northumberland County commissioners to vote on the issue at their May 5 meeting.
County officials, police, magisterial district judges and state constables met Friday afternoon for about an hour at the administration center to discuss transportation alternatives.
According to information compiled by county prison officials, transportation of county inmates cost $17,799.29 last month. Approximately $10,000 was spent to transport inmates at SCI-Coal Township to and from the county courthouse. An estimated $6,400 was spent on transporting prisoners to and from the four magisterial district judge offices in the county. It cost approximately $1,000 to take inmates to other prisons or medical facilities.
The analysis will determine if the cost for constables to transport prisoners is the same, higher or lower.
The county receives reimbursement from fines assessed to defendants if they are transported by constables or sheriff office personnel. The county is not reimbursed for using correctional officers to transport inmates.
Traditionally, the county only receives about 40 percent of reimbursement costs from inmates, but officials are hoping that collection rate will increase.
“I thought it was a good meeting because all the people generally affected by the transportation problem were under one roof,” commented Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones, of Mount Carmel, who is running for county judge this year.
He said, “The study will essentially compare the costs of using correctional officers versus constables. I wish we would have more meetings like this.”
The hourlong session, which was not open to the public, also included discussion about a central booking center and holding cell.
Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, of Shamokin, added, “It was a very productive meeting. All the commissioners are dedicated to keeping cops in the field and protecting citizens rather than having them transport inmates.”
‘Win-win’
Gembic believes it would be very advantageous for the county to revert back to using constables to transport prisoners because it would alleviate manpower and cost issues for municipal police departments, while allowing the county to be eligible for reimbursement. “It would be a win-win situation for everyone,” he said.
“All the commissioners seem to be on the same page with this,” he said. “They are giving it priority.”
The judge said he was impressed by the turnout at the meeting and the willingness of the participants to explore other transportation options.
District Attorney Ann Targonski said, “I am very optimistic we will work something out following our discussion at the meeting. I believe when we all work together toward the same goal, we will be able to find the best solutions that benefit the citizens of Northumberland County.”
In addition to Targonski, Gembic and Jones, participants included Commissioners Richard Shoch and Stephen Bridy, municipal and state police, Controller Chris Grayson, Sheriff Robert Wolfe, Prothonotary Justin Dunkelberger, President Judge William H. Wiest, Deputy Court Administrator Kevin O’Hearn, Magisterial District Judges Benjamin Apfelbaum, of Sunbury, and Michael Diehl, of Milton, Northumberland County Chief Probation Officer Jim Cortelyou, Warden Bruce Kovach and Constables Larry Rompallo, Butch Showers and Glenn Masser.
Although he couldn’t attend the meeting, Gembic said Commissioner Vinny Clausi supports a cost-benefit analysis to determine which options best suit the county.
The magisterial district judges, who helped organize the meeting, are seeking ways to make the transportation of inmates to and from court proceedings as efficient as possible. They said transportation issues involving county prisoners in SCI-Coal Township, Snyder County Prison, SCI-Muncy and other county jails have affected court hearings since a Jan. 14 fire ravaged Northumberland County Prison, prompting inmates to be relocated.
In January 2013, county commissioners eliminated the use of constables for inmate transportation purposes and placed that burden on municipal police who arrest defendants. But since the prison fire, the county has been using correctional officers to transport inmates.