Participants at the Nov. 14 meeting of the Wyoming County Prison Board included (above, clockwise from left) commissioners Judy Mead, Tom Henry, and Ron Williams, chief clerk Bill Gaylord, Atty. Steve Franko, warden Ken Repsher and president judge Russell Shurtleff.
Photos and Story by Rick Hiduk
(As published in the Rocket-Courier)
The first meeting of the Wyoming County Prison Board in two months yielded some welcome news. Population at the jail in Tunkhannock has declined to 69 inmates as the number of new commitments last month dropped to 43. Only five prisoners are currently boarded at other facilities.
Warden Ken Repsher and president judge Russell Shurtleff were reluctant to pinpoint a single factor and cautioned that the numbers fluctuate with the case load. Repsher noted that more people are being sent directly to drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, and Shurtleff suggested that the supervised bail program has also reduced pressure on the system.
“Having that additional officer has been very helpful,” Shurtleff stated, citing the cooperation of all of the involved agencies as the greatest catalyst for the improvement.
Commissioner Judy Mead noted that the board is also making progress at getting more resources approved through the Single County Authority, which authorizes payment by the county to each facility or agency. Currently only ABT and the adolescent unit at EIHAB are endorsed. Commissioners Tom Henry and Ron Williams hope to get Trehab approved soon, as well as others recommended by the Luzerne Wyoming County Drug & Alcohol Program.
Audience member Jeff Zimmerman asked where the money comes from for drug treatment, and Henry explained that funding is available for most people who come into the system who ask for treatment. “We usually see people who don’t have insurance, and it’s fairly easy to get them into treatment,” Henry explained.
If someone has insurance that won’t cover drug treatment, the county looks for other options. Henry and Williams agreed that nobody seeking treatment has ever been turned down.
Repsher expressed renewed concern about an antiquated control panel at the prison that is near the breaking point. “If it goes down, you’re running on keys for everything,” Repsher advised, adding that more staff would then be required for security purposes. Prison IT specialist Tom Katchur has recommended building a second control panel.
“That makes me nervous,” Mead remarked. “We’d better get moving on it.”
“It’s budget time,” Shurtleff stated. “Let’s get it in there.”
The board asked for Repsher to bring a full recommendation from Katchur to the next meeting, including projected costs and requirements for what work might need to be advertised for bids.