FRANKLIN COUNTY, PA - Franklin County Prison Warden John Wetzel is cautiously optimistic about the success of a new day reporting center that seems to be lowering the prison population, saving the county money and helping offenders stay out of trouble.

The center has been open for about 21/2 months, and during that time the population at the overcrowded prison has dropped by an average of 70 to 75 prisoners.

This week, the prison population was 305 compared to an average of 376 at the same time last year, Wetzel said, calling the drop "significant."

"We have been as low as 290 at times since the reporting center opened," he said.
But for Wetzel and reporting center Director Kim Eaton the most significant accomplishment is the difference the center's programs are making in the lives of convicts trying to make the transition from prison back into their community.

Wetzel said the county prison houses mostly local offenders who call Franklin County home, so when they are paroled or are released on probation, they go back to their families and neighborhoods. The idea, according to Wetzel and Eaton, is to change the lives of those who are assigned to the center so they won't do things that will send them back to prison. The program is not an easy way out for prisoners tired of sitting in a jail cell, however.

"Its not a 'get out of jail free' card," Wetzel said. "They are still held accountable, and if they aren't getting results we invite them to come back and join us... we'll leave the light on."

When an offender first comes to the reporting center, an assessment is done that identifies his or her needs, Eaton said.

"We see what areas they need to work on to become productive citizens and develop a treatment plan," she said.

Treatment is divided into levels, and during the first level, participants must report to the center six days a week and attend four to six pre-treatment sessions. They must participate in Moral Reconation Therapy, a 12-step cognitive behavioral treatment system for offenders and at-risk groups.

Participants work on things like anger management, building self-esteem, conquering substance abuse problems and building job skills. If they have children, they might work on improving parenting skills, and if their educational background is weak, they can participate in adult basic education and GED preparation programs. Two clients are currently in English as a Second Language classes.

Participants must also do 20 hours of community service. During their level one treatment phase, they must come to the center six days a week, arriving 15 minutes before any class they are participating in starts. Random drug and alcohol tests are part of the program and if the day is their random test day, the test must be done before they can go to the class.

If a person is late, he can't go into the class but must spend the class time doing cleaning chores at the center and then reschedule the class. If they break the rules, miss an appointment or show up late, participants are given "sanctions" that mostly involve cleaning, and if more severe problems arise -- such as failing a drug test -- they are put on heightened monitoring and could face "shock incarceration" or going back to jail for a few days.

Still, Eaton believes the structure and toughness of the program are working. The first offenders to come to the center in April were negative about the program, she said, but today they are just two months from graduating.

Graduation ceremonies are a part of the program but once offenders "graduate," they still aren't totally on their own, according to Eaton.

"We want them to be proud of what they have accomplished, but we do realize some issues don't just go away quickly," she said.

Once a person graduates from the program, he is put into a relapse prevention phase where he comes in twice a month, have at least one drug test a month and participate in relapse prevention therapy. Part of that phase is also referral of the individual to community support groups and resources.

"We want to be there to help them stay ahead."

This week 102 offenders were enrolled in the reporting center program and the center can handle between 126 and 150 participants at any given time, Eaton said.