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| New PA county lockup shines |
| By The Centre Daily Times |
| Published: 07/25/2006 |
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BENNER TOWNSHIP, PA - Captain John Perryman has worked in Centre County's jail for almost 19 years, and he seems eager to forget the place he spent much of that time. "I would never want to work in those conditions again," Perryman said of the former county jail, which was replaced with the new, $25 million Centre County Correctional Facility off the Benner Pike almost one year ago. That sentiment was echoed again and again by people interviewed by the Centre Daily Times who work in or with the new county jail. A recent review by the state Department of Corrections confirms that, a year after it opened, the new prison is running smoothly. The review found the jail to be 100 percent in compliance with state regulations. State inspection supervisor Tom Schlager, who will present the results to the Centre County Board of Commissioners today, said the review covered 25 sections of regulations including security, personnel, food service and medical service -- the "whole gamut." "A prison is a tough operation, it's seven days a week, 24 hours a day," he said. "There's a lot to address. It's not a cake walk to meet the 100 percent (compliance). You have to be diligent." And contrary to predictions of people who opposed building the new, 350-bed facility, the cost of running the jail has not risen dramatically. The prison's 2006 budget is about $5.1 million, up from $4.9 million in 2005 and 2004. While the new prison is running smoothly, it had a controversial beginning. County commissioners faced strong opposition to their decision to build a new facility. One commissioner blamed her failed bid for re-election on the emotions raised by the controversy. "It wasn't a job any of the commissioners wanted to do at the time. It's one of those jobs that needs to be done," said Commissioner Scott Conklin. Ask about the old, 77-bed prison behind the county courthouse and you'll hear tales of leaking showers, broiling or freezing temperatures, and cramped conditions for both inmates and employees. Schlager said the deficiencies in the former jail made full compliance with state regulations impossible. Chief Public Defender David Crowley said there often was no private place for meetings with inmates, so attorneys had to speak in code with their clients. "In the old days we managed the best we could with what we had," Crowley said. Nothing terrible did happen, Crowley said, "but we were left with the feeling that something could go horribly wrong. That's why I welcome the new facility." By 2003, the county had more than twice as many prisoners as the old county jail could hold and was paying $45 per day to house each of about 100 inmates in other counties. A recent count put the number of inmates in the new prison at 210, including 20 women that another county pays to house there. Seven of the prison's nine housing units are occupied, Warden Ed DeSabato said. The prison is divided into semicircle-shaped pods, where prisoners work, eat, recreate and sleep. That allows for more direct supervision of the inmates, DeSabato said, and enables officers assigned to the units to build a better rapport with the prisoners. "Everything is done within the housing unit," with the exception of medical care and other specialty services, DeSabato said. It also has more room for GED classes, drug and alcohol programs and, unlike the former prison, a kitchen. Conklin said the new prison is slowing down the escalating cost of housing inmates, and keeping the jobs in Centre County. The $1 million to $1.5 million the county would be spending to house inmates in other counties is now being spent in Centre County, he said. The old jail was renovated, at a cost of $43,500, and now is the county sheriff's office. |
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