By Mark Gilger Jr.
Republican & Herald
POTTSVILLE, Pa. — Due to an increasing female inmate population, Schuylkill County may soon be sending inmates to the Centre County Correctional Facility, Bellefonte.
On Wednesday, Warden Gene Berdanier said the prison had 292 inmates, including 63 women. The average population for March was 291, down from 294 in February. It peaked for the month at 309.
Meanwhile, the average female population increased from 46 in January to 48 in February and 56 in March.
A total of 46 inmates are triple-celled and 10 of them are women, Berdanier said.
The county authorized separate agreements in November 2015 with the George W. Hill Correctional Facility, Delaware County, to house the men and the State Correctional Institution/Muncy to house the women for $60 a day per inmate. There are currently 26 men in Delaware County and one woman in Muncy.
Commissioners Chairman and prison board Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said Centre County already submitted a proposal and it is being reviewed by the county solicitor.
The prison board also made a recommendation to fill two vacancies. The board’s personnel committee recommended a permanent offer be made to Thomas Forte for a lieutenant position and a conditional offer to Bryan Price for corrections officer. The board also approved the reinstatement of Robert L. Murton as a corrections officer. Murton was suspended without pay in December 2015 pending the outcome of a criminal investigation for drug possession charges.
Berdanier said candidates for part-time corrections officer positions are still being interviewed and tested. The prison had $28,381.02 in overtime expenditures in March.
Seven offenders were placed in the pre-release program in March. The program had a total of 29 offenders, saving 620 total jail days at the prison. Two were removed for violations.
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