Since the pre-release center is now a dead issue, the Schuylkill County Prison Board is now seeking ways to alleviate the overcrowding in the county prison in Pottsville by finding sentencing alternatives.

The inmate population is now 235 males and 30 females for total of 265 inmates with the capacity of the prison being 200 and the peak population this month was 272 including a record number of 42 females. The bids received came in higher than the budget county commissioners fixed for construction of the pre-release center next to the state correctional institution in Ryan Township.At the prison board meeting Wednesday at the courthouse in Pottsville the board heard from Chief Probation Officer John Richmond, who spoke on the programs now in use through sentences imposed by the five county judges alternate to prison. They are, electronic monitoring, work release, Intermediate Punishment known as SCRIP and bail program. He outlined each program.Richmond said the Electronic Monitoring Program is utilized on those offenders meeting the Intermediate Punishment standards of the sentencing commission and or those offenders ordered by the court. It was developed in 1992 as a sentencing alternative and this program has monitored 1,801 offenders in their homes in lieu of incarceration in the county prison. Monitoring costs are paid by the offender, $12 per day. Richmond reported the program has saved a total of 108,562 jail days and the cost saving was $5,428.100.In 2006, the program was expanded to include driving under the influence offenders who were placing an increased burden on the prison population and today there are 45 offenders being monitored, three additional offenders have been sentenced and are awaiting installation and 11 are scheduled for sentencing next week. Richards reported 29 offenders are being monitored with traditional house arrest units combined with visual breath testing, six offenders are being monitored by active Global Positioning Satellite technology and 10 are being monitored by SCRAM technology.President Judge William E. Baldwin was told additional personnel would be needed to monitor an expanded program."If we expand the program by 100 cases, we will need four additional probation officers," Richmond said.The current salary of a probation officer is $39,136 with an additional cost of $15,454 for benefits; salary of probation officer aides is $27,230 with $15,454 for benefits."Ideally, to operate a 24 hour a day house arrest program, three additional officers and two aides would be needed at a cost of $249,318 per year to the county," Richmond added.Work ReleaseProgramRichmond reported in April 2000, the probation department assumed full control of the Work Release Program with the goals to help alleviate the overcrowding conditions on the prison. He reported the program affords offenders the opportunity to pay their debt to society while maintaining their employment. The county prison has 44 beds for work release inmates and all beds are constantly full.Work Release residents are required to submit room and board payments at a rate of $60 per week and pay towards their costs and fines. They are offered the opportunity to purchase food, toiletries and laundry supplies from the commissary and all profits earned go to the county's general fund.In 2010, Richmond reported, 89 participated in the Work Release Program. A total of $58,646.02 was collected for room and board and $23,410 for their costs, fines and restitutions. Since 2000 a total of 905 offenders have participated and have paid $651,537.02 for room and board and $205,434 for costs, fines and restitutions.In addition, Richmond said that an Inmate Work Detail Program was initiated by the adult probation department."It is a highly successful program," Richmond said," which affords inmates the opportunity to work outside the prison performing various community service-type projects for the county and for non-profit agencies."There is also another program called Vocational Rehabilitation whereby inmates provide routine maintenance-type services for senior citizens throughout the county who are associated with the Senior Services Agency. In 2010 participating in these combined programs were 28 inmates which completed 259 jobs.Since 2000 a total of 219 offenders have participated.IntermediatePunishmentThe SCRIP (Schuylkill County Restrictive Intermediate Punishment) Program was created in 1998 and its goal, Richmond reported, "Is to give the court a sentencing alternative that is both punitive and rehabilative for non-violent, drug and alcohol dependent offenders," He reported currently there are 41 people participating in this program.A typical sentence would be 60 months with a number of days specified for inpatient treatment in a rehab center followed by house arrest with electronic monitoring followed by intensive supervision. Richmond reported the savings to the county is again calculated in the number of jail days saved based on the standard rate of $50 per day. Since 1998, he reported that 141 offenders have participated and 87,803 jail days have been saved.Bail ProgramRichmond reported although the county no longer receives funding from the state it continues to offer bail supervision to those offenders conditionally released from the county prison. He reported currently 56 pretrial releases are under supervision. In 2010 a total of 45 offenders were released on supervised bail.Back To Society"Recognizing that most county prison inmates will one day return home, the reintegration of an inmate back into the community is a matter that should require serious consideration and concern," Richmond told the board.In 2009 the court adopted the recommendation of the County Criminal Justice Advisory Board to develop program descriptions, recommendations and guidelines for the awarding of good time credit to inmates, sanctioned activities, work assignments, schooling and treatment protocols.Programs include The Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth; The General Education Diploma, The Vocational Rehabilitation Community Service, The Prime Care Anger Management Group Therapy, The Prison Work Force, Drug and Alcohol and Prison Work Release.Current CasesRichmond reported currently there are 2,210 active cases under the supervision of the adult probation department. Last year 345 parole applications were processed with 72 denied parole."We continue to be cognizant of the importance of minimum, parole dates and continue to strive for minimum release dates when possible," he reported.He concluded with leaving the board of pending future problems. Richmond reported the state plans to reevaluate the prisoners in state institutions as it believes many should not be serving state sentences and plans to return them to county prisons.Must Protect SocietyJudge Baldwin, who chairs the prison board, commented, "Protection of society remains paramount to our mission. Unfortunately, not all offenders perform well under community supervision when on probation and require incarceration."Baldwin noted in recent months the judges have revoked many probations and returned offenders to prison. He also complimented the adult probation department as being very dedicated and doing a outstanding job as reports are on the judge's desk days before an inmate is eligible for parole stating if he qualifies for parole which speeds up the processing. Commissioner Francis McAndrews also highly lauded their work.Warden's ReportWarden Eugene Berdanier gave his monthly report on expenditures, physical plant conditions, medical and programs. The cost to run the prison in March was $369,613.05. Maintenance work included computer control problem, continuing problems with the heating boiler, problem with washing machine and laundry room drainage blockage.The medical report showed 43 inmates were seen by dentist, 46 were on medical medication, one female was pregnant and 17 on suicide watch with no incidents.Twenty-three inmates were on work release and paid $3,318 for room and board and $1,240 towards costs and fines. Eight participated in Vocational Rehabilitation Program completing 29 jobs and providing services to 75 senior citizens referred by Office of Senior Services and nine jobs completed for county.