HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRISON BOARD MINUTES July 2023
FRANKLIN COUNTY PRISON BOARD MINUTES
Franklin County Administration Building
July 11, 2023
Present:
John Flannery, Commissioner Hon. Shawn Meyers, President Judge
Christopher Schell, Warden Matt Fogal, District Attorney
Harold Wissinger, Controller Dane Anthony, Sheriff
John Thierwechter, Assistant County Administrator Mark Singer, Court Administration
Doug Wilburne, Probation Chief Geoffrey Willett, Probation Deputy Chief
Jeffrey Scott, FCJ Deputy Warden 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 June 2023 meeting were discussed.
A. DA Fogal moved to accept the minutes, Judge Meyers seconded the motion and the
minutes were unanimously approved.
IV. Warden’s Report
A. There were 123 commitments (90 males, 33 females) and 130 discharges (94 males, 36 females) in
June. A comparison between June 2022 and June 2023 showed that in June of 2022 there were 157
commitments and 138 discharges.
B. The average daily population was 263.8 with an average of 221.7 males and 42.1 females.
C. There were 110 sentenced (95 males, 15 females) and 159 unsentenced (133 males, 26 females)
inmates.
D. The average length of stay (ALOS) for those discharged in June was 52.9 days and the median length
of stay for June was 34.6 days. The yearly average length of stay was 70.6 days.
E. PrimeCare’s medical report was presented. There were 101 inmates (38%) that were on mental health
medication. There were 179 on the MH caseload and an additional 47 with SMI diagnoses. Seventy-
nine (64.2%) commitments were diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder. There were four inmates at
Torrance and two awaiting transfer. Three inmates were waiting on competency evaluations.
F. Commissioner Flannery asked if the mental health numbers were extraordinarily high for the month or
if these statistics were normal. Warden Schell offered to start showing more comparisons in the
presentation of the medical report. Judge Meyers requested that PrimeCare present a breakdown of the
jail’s mental health numbers and asked that they be invited to the next meeting.
G. DA Fogal 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 53 intakes and 42 discharges.
B. There were eight inmates placed into employment.
C. There were 1168 hours of community service completed.
D. The Pre-Trial Release program had 51 offenders.
E. The Drug and Alcohol RIP/DCIP program had 68 offenders. There were eight successful discharges.
F. The Sex Offender Program had 46.
G. There were 38 offenders on the Mental Health caseload.
H. The Electronic Monitoring Program had 14 offenders.
I. There were 22 offenders detained in June and there were 22 that were given alternative sanctions.
J. There were 130 jail days saved by using the alternative sanctions of electronic monitoring (425 days),
DCIP/D&A RIP (2029 days) and pre-trial release (1409 days).
K. The Work Release program collected $20,385.52 and the Probation Department collected $219,112.27
in June.
VI. Old Business
A. Warden Schell provided a staffing update. There are currently 29 vacant officer positions.
B. Warden Schell discussed the recent completion of the jail’s kitchen floor project. He commended the
food service and inmate workers for their work during the replacement of the floor.
VII. New Business
A. The Board discussed policy language regarding medication assisted treatment and medical marijuana.
Judge Meyers stated that Pennsylvania has been targeted by the Department of Justice to identify blanket
bans on medication assisted therapy. Some jurisdictions had complete bans and offfenders would have to
detox involuntarily. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts is asking all jurisdictions to review
their language to ensure blanket ban language is not used.
VIII. The next meeting is scheduled for August 8, 2023 at 8:30AM at the Franklin County Jail. Controller Wissinger
moved to end the meeting, DA Fogal seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned.