HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRISON BOARD MINUTES October 2021
FRANKLIN COUNTY PRISON BOARD MINUTES
Franklin County Administrative Building
October 12, 2021
Present:
John Flannery, Commissioner Bob Ziobrowski, Commissioner
Bill Bechtold, FCJ Warden David Keller, Commissioner
Hon. Shawn Meyers, President Judge Matt Fogal, District Attorney
Harold Wissinger, Controller Dane Anthony, Sheriff
Doug Wilburne, Probation Chief Geoffrey Willet, Probation Deputy Chief
John Thierwechter, Assistant County Administrator Ellen Eckert, Pre-Release Supervisor
Lionel Pierre, FCJ Deputy Warden Jeffrey Scott, FCJ Deputy Warden
Michelle Weller, FCJ Deputy Warden Mark Singer, Court Administrator
I. The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Flannery at 8:30 AM.
II. Public Comment
A. There was no public comment
III. Minutes for the September 2021 meeting were discussed.
A. Commissioner Ziobrowski moved to accept the minutes, Sheriff Anthony seconded the
motion and the minutes were unanimously approved.
IV. Warden’s Report
A. There were 126 commitments and 145 discharges in September.
B. The average daily population was 392 with an average of 326 males and 66 females. Warden Bechtold
reported that higher population numbers have been a concern and that the count has been over 400 the
past several weeks.
C. The recidivism rate was 59% when looking at all new commitments that had been incarcerated at FCJ
within the past three years. The recidivism rate was 43% when looking only at those commitments
with new charges.
D. At a snapshot view at the beginning of October there were 175 sentenced and 211 unsentenced
inmates. There were 21 inmates on Approved Temporary Absence status; however none of these are
due to overcrowding. Thirty-eight were pending transfer to other facilities, with limited SCI allowance
for state transports still being a concern.
E. There was $13, 715 collected in total revenue for September.
F. The average length of stay (ALOS) for those discharged in September was 63.5 days.
G. There was one inmate housed in Centre and one in Indiana.
H. A breakdown of the demographic statistics for September indicated that males made up 77% of the
population, 69% of the population were white, 50% of the population was between the ages of 26-39,
73% were single, 5% were military veterans and 75% had at least their high school diploma or GED.
I. The jail’s August expenditures were discussed.
J. PrimeCare’s medical report was presented. There were 1103 sick calls. There were 31 outside medical
appointments and five trips to the ER. There were 889 mental health contacts. There were 110 inmates
on suicide watch. There were three inmates that required 1:1 observation. There were no inmates at
Torrance State Hospital. There were six participants in the Sex Offender’s Treatment Program. There
were 43 in the Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) program. There were 248 on the MH caseload and
an additional 43 with SMI diagnoses. There were 55 commitments placed on detox protocol. There
were two pregnant inmates. Twenty inmates given the COVID vaccine.
K. Commissioner Keller moved to accept the Warden’s report, Controller Wissinger seconded the motion
and the report was unanimously approved.
V. Intermediate Punishment report
A. The Pre-Release department received 65 intakes and had 47 releases.
B. No inmates were placed in jobs.
C. There were 3040 hours of community service completed.
D. The Pre-Trial Release program had 75 offenders.
E. The Drug and Alcohol RIP/DCIP program had 57 offenders. There were eight successful discharges.
F. The Sexual Offender Program had 50.
G. There were 30 offenders on the Mental Health caseload.
H. The Electronic Monitoring Program had 16 offenders.
I. There were 142 jail days saved by using the alternative sanctions of electronic monitoring (370 jail
days), DCIP/D&A RIP (1650 jail days), intensive supervision (33 jail days) and pre-trial release (2229
jail days).
J. There were 13 offenders detained in September and 15 given alternative sanctions.
K. The Probation Department collected $236,468 in September.
VI. Old Business
A. Warden Bechtold provided a pandemic update. There are currently three positive cases for inmates.
B. Warden Bechtold provided a staffing update. There are currently eleven vacancies. The jail and
Human Resources department continue to recruit for new officers. Warden Bechtold shared that short
staffing is a concern shared among jails throughout Pennsylvania.
VII. New Business
A. The move to the new courthouse was discussed. Sheriff Anthony reported the move went well and
credited the extensive planning that was made leading up to the move. He specifically commended his
Deputy Sheriff, Ben Sites, for his work in this.
B. Warden Bechtold reported the US Marshals contract to house federal inmates was being updated. It was
last updated in 2008 and the cost of inmate per day has increased.
VIII. The next meeting is scheduled for November 9, 2021 at 8:30AM at the Franklin County Jail. Controller Wissinger
moved to end the meeting, Sheriff Anthony seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned.