HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRISON BOARD MINUTES November 2022
FRANKLIN COUNTY PRISON BOARD MINUTES
Franklin County Administration Jail
November 8, 2022
Present:
Dave Keller, Commissioner Bob Ziobrowski, Commissioner
John Flannery, Commissioner Matt Fogal, District Attorney
Honorable Judge Meyers, President Judge Harold Wissinger, Controller
Bill Bechtold, Warden Doug Wilburne, Probation Chief
Jeffrey Scott, FCJ Deputy Warden Ellen Eckert, Pre-Release Supervisor
Geoffrey Willet, Probation Deputy Chief Heather Franzoni, FCJ Deputy Warden
Michelle Weller, FCJ Deputy Warden
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 October 2022 meeting were discussed.
A. District Attorney Fogal moved to accept the minutes, Controller Wissinger seconded the
motion and the minutes were unanimously approved.
IV. Warden’s Report
A. There were 142 commitments and 139 discharges in October.
B. The average daily population was 263 with an average of 221 males and 42 females.
C. The recidivism rate was 43% when looking at all new commitments and the recidivism rate was 38%
when looking at those being held for trial only.
D. At a snapshot view at the beginning of September there were 91 sentenced and 163 unsentenced
inmates. There were 10 inmates on Approved Temporary Absence status. Thirteen inmates were
pending transfer to SCI.
E. There was $5893 collected in total revenue for October.
F. The average length of stay (ALOS) for those discharged in October was 52 days.
G. There was one inmate housed in Centre.
H. A breakdown of the demographic statistics for October indicated that males made up 77% of the
population, 73% of the population were white, 37% of the population were between the ages of 25-34,
69% were single, 4% were military veterans and 83% had at least their high school diploma or GED.
I. PrimeCare’s medical report was presented. There were 1233 sick calls. There were 28 outside medical
appointments and five trips to the ER. There were 766 mental health contacts. There were 49 inmates
on suicide watch. One inmate required 1:1 observation. There were no inmates at Torrance State
Hospital. There were three participants in the Sex Offender’s Treatment Program. There were 39 in
the Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) program. There were 164 on the MH caseload and an
additional 42 with SMI diagnoses. There were 51 commitments placed on detox protocol. There were
three pregnant inmates. Twenty-nine inmates were given the COVID vaccine.
J. August 2022’s expenditures were discussed.
K. DA Fogal noted that the jail population is half of what it was in October 2019. Warden Bechtold said
he gave credit to the Court and the Adult Probation Office for rapidly processing new cases and to the
Adult Probation Office for offering alternative sanctions. Warden Bechtold said that law enforcement
are bringing in less commitments when the offenses were minor.
L. DA Fogal moved to accept the Warden’s report, Commissioner Ziobrowski seconded the motion and
the report was unanimously approved.
V. Intermediate Punishment report
A. The Community Release department received 54 intakes and had 46 releases.
B. There were six inmates placed in jobs. .
C. There were 1656 hours of community service completed.
D. The Pre-Trial Release program had 50 offenders.
E. The Drug and Alcohol RIP/DCIP program had 60 offenders. There were 10 successful discharges.
F. The Sexual Offender Program had 46.
G. There were 40 offenders on the Mental Health caseload.
H. The Electronic Monitoring Program had 16 offenders.
I. There were 114 jail days saved by using the alternative sanctions of electronic monitoring (511 days),
DCIP/D&A RIP (1520 days), intensive supervision (126 days) and pre-trial release (1370 days).
J. There were 10 offenders detained in October and 17 given alternative sanctions.
K. The Community Release Department collected $15,592 and the Probation Department collected
$215,350.
VI. Old Business
A. Warden Bechtold provided a pandemic update. There are currently no staff member out on pandemic
precautions and no inmate that are positive.
B. Warden Bechtold provided a staffing update. There are currently 16 vacancies.
VII. New Business
A. Warden Bechtold recognized that this was his last meeting before retirement. He said that two areas to
continue to monitor are staffing and the aging of the Jail. He reported the staffing analysis recommended
106 positions. Even with a lower population, the number of required man hours has increased due to factors
such as outside medical appointments, hospital admissions and acute inmate mental health needs. Warden
Bechtold said that the jail has now been in place at Opportunity Avenue for 15 years. Since all equipment
was put in place at the same time, everything will start to need replaced at the same time. He recommend
that maintenance work and equipment replacement be staggered.
VIII. The next meeting is scheduled for December 13, 2022 at 8:30AM at the Franklin County Administration Building.
DA Fogal moved to end the meeting, Commissioner Keller seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned.