Population holding at Schuylkill prison

With the cost so far this year hitting $481,518 to house overflow inmates in out-of-county jails, the Schuylkill County Prison Board was glad to learn the population in the prison was 225 as of Wednesday.

That number is substantially lower than the 277 cap set by the state Department of Corrections for the aging jail on Sanderson Street in Pottsville.

In May 2016, the state Department of Corrections ordered the county to stop accepting new inmates until it got the population below that cap. Too many inmates were being housed three to a cell, the DOC said.

To comply, Schuylkill began housing overflow inmates at other jails — at a cost of about $65-$70 per inmate per day.

The DOC lifted the restriction three months later, after the county kept the numbers down.

The drop prompted county Commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. to suggest returning at least some of the inmates.

“Now, do we look at bringing people back to save the taxpayers some money?” he said.

No action was taken on his request.

The cost of housing inmates out of the county is paid from the county’s general fund. It doesn’t include transportation or staff overtime costs.

As of Wednesday, 84 inmates were housed in out-of-county prisons at a daily cost of at least $5,460.

There were 14 in Berks County, 40 in Centre County, 13 in Columbia County, seven in Lackawanna County, and 11 in Snyder County.

In other matters, the board discussed ongoing work in four areas in anticipation of a state inspection in November.

Those areas are staffing analysis, an emergency plan, triple-celling, and a recreation area for those inmates in restricted housing.

“We’re working in them and making progress,” said Commissioner Gary J. Hess.