As the Schuylkill County Prison continues to be overcrowded with inmates, the state Department of Corrections will present its nine-month-long assessment of the facility to county officials today.
According to Warden Gene Berdanier's monthly report during a prison board meeting Wednesday, the average inmate population for March was 304, peaking at 313. On Wednesday, there were 321 inmates at the prison. The suggested capacity of the prison is 240.
"The numbers are really concerning," President Judge William E. Baldwin, who is also the prison board chairman, said Wednesday. "We are now starting to hit some pretty high numbers on a regular basis."
The average population was 296 in February and 314 in January.
The state started its vulnerability study of the prison in September. Officials will meet with DOC representatives today to discuss the study and hear the department's suggestions.
The prison board has considered building a new facility in the prison courtyard to help with overcrowding, but board members wanted to wait until the study was complete before moving forward.
Also Wednesday, it was announced that the fatherhood program at the prison will be reinstituted. Provided by the Lifelong Learning Center of Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29, the education group focuses on responsible parenting, anger management, career planning, child development and academic support as inmates work to achieve their GED. The group will meet weekly starting May 1.
The inmate identification policy and process has been finalized and all inmates will be receiving an ID they must wear at all times. Berdanier said IDs will benefit the sheriff's office as they transport inmates as well as for court purposes.
Lt. Richard Emerick submitted his retirement notice. Emerick has worked at the prison since November 1981, starting as a part-time corrections officer while also working for the Pottsville police department. He has been a shift lieutenant for the last 15 years.
"I thank him for his service and wish him well in the future," Berdanier said.