Outsourcing continues for Schuylkill County Prison

Outsourcing — housing inmates in other county facilities — continues in Schuylkill County. If there is a bright side, it’s that taking that action keeps the county prison operating at state standards.

Warden Eugene Berdanier presented information on the county prison operations during a prison board meeting Wednesday. During January 2019, the average in-house prison population was 221, with 173 men and 48 women, with a peak count of 236, which included a peak female census of 64. During January, 67 inmates were housed in other facilities at a cost of $102,592. Last year, the cost for the outsourcing was $1.5 million.

Salaries and wages for staff during January was $254,470, plus $13,350 in overtime wages. Currently, two employees are off-duty on extended medical leave and one employee is on restricted-duty status. There are staff vacancies for one full-time correctional officer and eight part-time corrections officers. Five correction officer hires are pending.

During January, 11 inmates participated in the work release program and six participated in the vocational rehab program. The vocational rehab program completed 20 jobs, which included 14 community service jobs, two jobs for senior services and four jobs for the county.

Brittany Ketchem, a case manager for Clinical Outcomes Group Inc. briefed the prison board on a new re-entry program the company is conducting. Ketchem said that according to statistics, 31 percent of inmates are at high risk and 44 percent at moderate risk for reoffending after release.

Through the re-entry program, before an inmate is released staff will do an assessment, and provide customized support — such as food, shelter, clothing — when the person is released. The program may also address a person’s need for transportation, legal assistance, counseling, education and work skills.