The Schuylkill County Prison cannot accept sentenced criminals until its average monthly population drops below 277.
The state Department of Corrections ordered on May 4 that the facility is ineligible to take any additional prisoners sentenced between six months to five years until further notice.
The DOC order said the county has failed to comply with an agreement approved last year that the inmate population would not exceed its approved capacity of 277. The agreement, approved July 28, 2015, was designed to reduce triple celling at the facility. Triple celling refers to three inmates being housed in a cell meant for one or two.
The county was given until Nov. 24, 2015, to reduce its inmate population or risk not being allowed to house additional prisoners. The facility had 302 inmates that day, according to the DOC’s order.
Commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr., who also serves as prison board chairman, said he thought the county was in compliance with the agreement, but the state DOC wants the monthly average inmate population to be below 277.
However, the monthly average was not explicitly stated in the agreement. It states: “On or before Nov. 24, 2015, the county respondents shall ensure that the county prison’s inmate population does not exceed its approved capacity of 277. Thereafter, the respondents shall ensure that the county prison’s inmate population does not exceed its approved capacity, except on a temporary basis that does not exceed 30 days.”
Halcovage said that was interpreted as the county having 30 days to get the population back below 277. The monthly average was 294 in February and 291 in March. The prison had 309 inmates Tuesday.
The DOC will review its decision in three months, Halcovage said.
“Despite the county’s diligent efforts to reach the benchmark set by the PA Department of Corrections, the continued swelling numbers of inmates in Schuylkill County has prevented it from attaining that benchmark,” Halcovage said in a press release issued Tuesday. “The Schuylkill County prison board and board of commissioners are committed to continuing to work with the Department of Corrections, the Schuylkill County court as well as county law enforcement professionals to ensure that all inmate housing requirements are met and those individuals adjudicated by the court requiring incarceration will be incarcerated.”
The county is already housing more than 30 inmates at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility, Thornton, and State Correctional Institution/Muncy since March. Halcovage said the prison board is also finalizing an agreement to house more inmates at the Centre County Correctional Facility, Bellefonte, and discussions have started with Columbia County Prison, Bloomsburg.
Halcovage said the George W. Hill Correctional Facility can potentially take about 25 more men while Centre County can take about 20 men and 10 women, and Columbia County can take about 20 men.
“There are not many places willing to take on female population,” Halcovage said.
The cost to house inmates at those prisons is $60 a day per inmate. Although that cost is less than the state average of $65, it is only $45 a day per inmate at the Schuylkill County Prison, according to the DOC. Halcovage said Columbia County is also asking for $60 a day per inmate.
The prison can still take individuals who are awaiting sentencing, Halcovage said.
Halcovage said the prison board is continuing to look into other options, including an intermediate placement facility and additional alternative sentencing programs.
“The rate of crime is not going down and we are working together to get these alternatives,” Halcovage said. “Our goal is to come together with the different parties involved and work on the plan together to get the number where it needs to be.”