By Mark Gilger Jr.
Republican & Herald
POTTSVILLE, Pa. — Schuylkill County has not yet sent inmates to other facilities.
Last month, the county prison board authorized agreements with George W. Hill Correctional Facility, Thornton, and the State Correctional Institution/Muncy to house about 35 inmates from Schuylkill County.
Prison Board Chairman and Commissioner George F. Halcovage said Wednesday at the board meeting that the state Department of Corrections is working with the county and has approved the time frame of the transfer. Halcovage had said that he could not disclose specifically when they will be transferred for security reasons.
County solicitor Al Marshall said the contracts are under final review at both prisons.
In July, the county entered into an agreement with the DOC to reduce its inmate population by Nov. 24 or risk not being allowed to house any additional prisoners. The agreement to bring the inmate population back to its approved capacity of 277 was designed to eliminate triple celling at the facility. Triple celling refers to three inmates being housed in a cell meant for one or two.
On Wednesday, there were 267 inmates at the prison and 32 of them were in triple cells, Warden Gene Berdanier said.
The prison has a suggested capacity of 240, which takes into account other factors like inmates that may need to be housed alone. However, the facility has 277 permanent beds.
The average inmate population for November was 302. The inmate population has averaged 300 or more since April. Population peaked at 337 in November.
George W. Hill Correctional Facility is a privately owned company contracted through Delaware County. Built in 1998, it has a capacity of 1,931 and houses inmates from different county, state and federal prison systems.
Twenty-five men will be housed there, while 15 women will be sent to SCI/Muncy. However, those figures may change as the inmate population is constantly fluctuating.
Although housing costs are not yet finalized, both agreements are for the cost not to exceed $60 a day per inmate. That cost is below the 2014 state average of $67, according to the DOC. Meanwhile, it cost Schuylkill County $44.23 a day to house one inmate in 2014, according to the DOC.One corrections officer has retired and another resigned. There are currently four staff vacancies at the prison: a lieutenant, two corrections officers and a maintenance position.
Thirteen offenders were placed in the prerelease program in November. The program had 62 offenders for the month, saving 1,458 total jail days. One participant was removed for violations.
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