By Mark Gilger Jr.
Republican & Herald
POTSVILLE, Pa. — The average inmate population is back down at the Schuylkill County Prison after peaking for the year last month.
There was an average of 276 inmates at the prison for July, according to the monthly report by Deputy Warden David Wapinsky at the prison board meeting Wednesday.
That is the third-lowest average for the year and includes an average of 229 men and 47 women. The population peaked at 296 for the month.
July marks the first time the average inmate population has decreased over the month. It climbed each month from 264 in January to 294 in June.
In other business, Wapinsky said a new countertop was installed in the employee break room for the three-bay food warmers to rest on so the staff can serve themselves buffet style. This eliminates the officers from having to go in the kitchen for meals served by inmates.
Prison staff also underwent firearms training by a certified trainer with the Department of Corrections from July 28 to Aug. 1.
During the meeting, it was announced that Garland Communications completed training and programmed all remaining employees into the facial-recognition time clock system. Staff has been told to use the new time clock to become familiar with the process before it goes live in September.
Purchased last November, the new time clock system was $6,070 and will make time logs easier at the prison while enhancing security.
In other news, there are currently two staff vacancies at the prison: a correctional officer position and a personal fiscal assistant position.
Two correctional officers remain on off-duty extended medical leave. An officer returned to duty Monday after being off work since March 16 for a personal health condition.
Also announced at the meeting:
--Sixteen offenders were placed on the pre-release program in July. The program consisted of 46 offenders, saving 1,024 total jail days at the Schuylkill County Prison. Two participants were removed for violations. About 4,096 alcohol tests were administered and 159 drug tests were taken on the 46 participants.
--Fifteen inmates participated in the work release program. Sixteen participated in the vocational rehabilitation program and inmates performing utility work for the prison occupied two beds. Eleven of them are eligible for parole and their beds should become available by the end of the month. One inmate was removed from the work release program for violations. Two women participated in the work release program. Three men and a woman are currently awaiting to be admitted into the work release program and six men are waiting to join the vocational rehabilitation program.
--The vocational rehabilitation program completed 22 jobs in 22 days in July. Eight days were spent providing services to 100 senior citizens referred by the Office of Senior Services. Ten days were used for community service jobs and four were for the county.