Carbon plans inmate transportation for an emergency

Carbon County now has transportation contracts in place for inmates in the event of an emergency at the correctional facility that requires an evacuation.

On Thursday, the county commissioners approved agreements with Kuhn Transportation of Jim Thorpe and George’s Transportation of Lehighton for emergency transportation services from the prison in the event of a necessary evacuation.

The costs for these services, if required is $272 for four hours and an additional $68 per hour for Kuhn; and $80 per hour with a minimum of two hours for George’s. Both contracts are for five years.

Carbon County prison officials have been working at securing emergency contracts for transportation and housing since August.

To date, transportation contracts, as well as a housing contract for the female inmates at the Nesquehoning Recreation Center have been signed.

In other prison matters, commissioners approved an agreement with Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission in Lehighton to provide drug and alcohol treatment counseling services at the correctional facility from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2018.

The cost of the service, which is a renewal from last year, will remain $54,000 and be paid for through the inmate commissary account.

The services are the same as in 2017, and include conducting assessments of inmates for the program, holding group therapies and developing treatment plans for each individual in the program.

There will also be two counselors splitting the 40-hour work weeks.

The program through the commission began in Carbon in 2015.