The population at Schuylkill County Prison is well under the limits set by the state and county officials to reduce overcrowding.

But with new inmates expected at the jail, the board that runs the prison is proactively trying to reduce its population.At Wednesday's meeting of the Schuylkill County Prison Board, Warden Eugene Berdanier reported that the prison's peak census for the month of August was 229. The average census was 210.That's well below the cap of 277 set by the state department of corrections last year in response to concerns about overcrowding, and inmates being kept three to a cell.However, new inmates keep adding to the total, pushing it closer to the capacity. Berdanier said that as of Wednesday, the population had climbed to 249.And more inmates are expected. Another influx of prisoners is expected to arrive after plea hearings scheduled for next week. District Attorney Christine Holman said that as many as 30 people could be sent to county prison.The county is looking to send more prisoners to other county facilities around the state. They currently have 27 inmates spread among Delaware, Columbia and Centre counties.Berdanier said that he has recently been communicating with the warden at the Berks County Correctional Facility about housing some inmates there.They may also have capacity for female inmates.Columbia County, which currently has 11 Schuylkill inmates, cannot take anymore."They're going to assist us with whatever they can. Obviously each facility has its own needs," Berdanier said.There are also a handful of inmates at SCP who are actually serving state time. They should be transferred in the near future, county Commissioner George Halcovage said."We know we have to get them out," Halcovage said. "We try to move them out as quickly as we can."There are 27 inmates currently transferred at a cost of $60 per inmate per day.The board also discussed how adding a third shift nurse has helped them improve their response to inmates' medical needs.Frank Komykoski, vice president of operations for Primecare, said that the third shift nurse can evaluate an inmate who is showing signs of illness in-house, potentially saving a trip to the emergency room.