[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6464423,"mediaKeyId","5783796-032919f167a774c885e746f83fb06d5b","parentId",5783796,"title","Board authorizes hiring of Lieutenant Jennifer Luna at Lackawanna County Prison","audioSeconds",25,"startMs",1820000,"endMs",1845000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5783796-032919f167a774c885e746f83fb06d5b&start=1820&end=1845","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5783796-032919f167a774c885e746f83fb06d5b/thumbnail_1820000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6464423/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Board-authorizes-hiring-of-Lieutenant-Jennifer-Luna-at-Lackawanna-County-Prison","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464423-305669dc237e17a815cc8b9ea39febf0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773570809&Signature=DDfAn2ZGU1WqNBN~CAN7GQ5kDsEMOYnpCISPUUikJ-lHyVfycAG1huCMEbmvpxIQz16KSKtZSvzvpqRdDshh5XdhzKMNSzCc9g98HSkP~H2RdBoVEz8rxDjjnwwpuQp-i-NiX90EmwE7HKviwuXGWdhWCApoikMH9ASfNplNSpsbzWSVZiRxAP5P47agSZJh9L0BYDf7APXz6Yhtu2Z-rL3VOC4LqC36~Q5B6gMKE-v3D0ApH3lazdXQE7eUnTFTTjgTNOIu9fYCrskHjE~vdk6XkFPYQle9ZOi5qZ7wpRwuXeNJaBzt1xdNtz~rovTVg7D8Z8P5ftURxANZSxewiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lackawanna County, PA","date","2025-09-18T18:27:51Z","article","The Lackawanna County Prison Board authorized the hiring of Jennifer Luna to a lieutenant position at the county prison.

The warden asked the board for authorization to hire Jennifer Luna, whom the warden described as having served as a captain at a Northumberland County facility. A motion to authorize the hire was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; all voting members present answered “Aye” and the chair declared the motion carried.

The meeting record provided no further details on appointment terms, salary or start date.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lackawanna County Prison Board 9 17 25","oneSentenceSummary","The board authorized hiring Jennifer Luna, formerly a captain at a Northumberland County facility, to a lieutenant position at the Lackawanna County Prison; the motion passed by voice vote.","taxTitle","Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2940,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6464429,"Resentencing of community interest: advocates urge work‑release return, reentry festival and more programming at Lackawanna County Prison",708,681000,1389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5783796-032919f167a774c885e746f83fb06d5b&start=681&end=1389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5783796-032919f167a774c885e746f83fb06d5b/thumbnail_681000.jpg","/articles/6464429/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Resentencing-of-community-interest-advocates-urge-workrelease-return-reentry-festival-and-more-programming-at-Lackawanna-County-Prison","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464429-cc617a456cea77c99b98e4e5082bc6f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773570809&Signature=VxValaKXzd1pz~HdIfx-fg7VUSE~osDH4mAQ8OBjeNye8HwNNsvsEQYqf3gvo5sVunmgLa26YP5z3LGQG-fRL34LYC6p4fVS-mV~FVDYz0ASFizWXquqaelyzc5tcpWFr4N1NiCChM97UUDY23B9gTXqHSl-0TKWJjVTZn6jrgs4uaHz-4x8CHarRx8mN4sk3CE2cMBDubR53H4Pp59UXtrqgUQMSUNQSbo4oXJm48NK-O67lQyO5YXF8-TF7LIv0vWHWerOKzJyYf9ClkBIOYyz5CLx87TL4h31UKdftXDdXs2v3JGd1OV7rUQgmYpKmY02IUcw2DbTgvBi~C9kNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents and reentry advocates used the public‑comment portion of the Lackawanna County Prison Board meeting to promote programs and raise concerns about services for people in custody.

Josh McHugh of the Lackawanna County Green Tree Task Force reminded the board of a reentry resource festival scheduled the following day at the courthouse on Linden Street, saying about two dozen organizations with resource tables would attend and that county officials and a reentry coordinator from Susquehanna County planned to participate.

Advocates asked the board to reimplement a work‑release program that ended during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Liz Parsons, speaking for a prisoner‑advocacy group, said the program helps keep people employed while incarcerated and can reduce recidivism and county costs. A board member responded that reinstating work release is “one of my top priorities,” and staff said consultants’ findings on the county website recommend bringing the program back; the board and staff said they are evaluating where to house a center and other logistical issues, including differences in male and female housing and past building inadequacies.

Community volunteers and program coordinators raised several other service concerns and proposals:

- Frank Malacario of a prisoner‑advocacy group said his group’s volunteer background‑check packet for an ESL instructor submitted in August had not been completed and asked for an update; the warden said the volunteer appeared to be cleared but that he would check and follow up.

- Several speakers raised concerns about mental‑health care and medication: one attendee cited a medical report showing 470 of 628 inmates were on psychotropic medications and asked whether counseling and behavioral therapy accompanied prescriptions; the warden said some inmates receive counseling and some do not, and board and staff noted limits on staffing.

- On prison jobs and laundry, speakers urged the prison to consider assigning women to handle women’s laundry to reduce missing items; the warden confirmed men do all laundry currently and described the mesh‑bag process used to label items.

- Reverend Doug Postgate and other volunteers said some women are excluded from a women’s Bible study if they did not identify a denomination at intake; staff explained that intake records are used to identify religious accommodations, and people may request changes to their recorded religion.

- Maggie Craig, a community volunteer, said a prison women’s writing class has been offered in donated classroom space for about a year and read a poem produced by a student in the class.

Board and staff responses were largely receptive: the warden said he would check on volunteer background checks and report back; staff and a board member said bringing back work release is under review but is a priority; medical staffing shortages were acknowledged and commenters asked the board to pursue additional funding or staffing for medical and mental‑health services.

No formal board action to change program rules or to reinstate work release was taken at the meeting; speakers asked for follow‑up and staff committed to checking on background checks and providing requested demographic reports.

","Advocates and residents urged reinstating a work‑release program, promoted a reentry resource fair, raised concerns about mental‑health staffing and medication use, asked for better access to religious and educational programs, and showcased a prison writing class; board and staff said reinstating work release is a priority under review.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6464434,"Controller reports inmate and canteen account balances; board approves payables",64,557000,621000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5783796-032919f167a774c885e746f83fb06d5b&start=557&end=621","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5783796-032919f167a774c885e746f83fb06d5b/thumbnail_557000.jpg","/articles/6464434/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Controller-reports-inmate-and-canteen-account-balances-board-approves-payables","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464434-e85826ef776edfd2b1a69bab9b529666/orig.mp4?Expires=1773570809&Signature=XE944Gqg0~tIdRwhnnQz5leY6vmjugLF6KjmekiOc0zE3MhxYdQCMfnScksRK9U6o3kWJalFiKKEuTYNDx~GKcD0pfClu06IMJi1tG6vwT9XhTcWSwfhRub4wQHZbFXtlyivI2hEtK82ITX0IfOUMTEfyyp-i~ApFucjR44vvNrP9~5q5UDHd0A0HJjY5TaZZhWKfOsIhhARU-fDM~F3stKPWvqmu5dg9se5Wanuh8wmmSjaHsQXxlElSoVAx~FZLUtBq1gpLqp2Nri7vU~rj-6negETYTZBEc7gVOkaTX5xprm~RalciaBdiEdrsvMfgSjQxGAqrjfr7t0jTRv3Aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The county controller reported that reconciliations of the prison inmate and canteen accounts for July 2025 matched bank statements and found no discrepancies, and the board voted to accept the controller’s report and to approve current payables for the prison and community corrections center.

The controller reported that the inmate account balance was $428,156 as of Aug. 31, 2025. The canteen checking account balance was $582,986.46 as of Aug. 31; the canteen also holds a Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust account balance of $969,002.17, which the controller said is earning approximately $33,423 per month and will next mature in January 2026. During August the controller said $149,281.41 was paid from the canteen account for the benefit, welfare and education of county prison inmates; an itemized detail of those expenses was attached to the controller’s report.

A member of the public, Denise Brown, asked about a roughly $15,000 payment to Outreach for a GED program and how many participants that covered; the controller answered that the number was “somewhere around 19 or 20.”

A motion to accept the controller’s report was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; a subsequent motion to approve current payables for the community corrections center and the prison was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The chair recorded the votes as “Aye” and declared the motions carried.

","The county controller reported reconciled inmate and canteen account balances for July/August, including an inmate account balance of $428,156 and canteen holdings and investments; the board accepted the controller’s report and approved payables.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6464438,"Lackawanna County warden reports inmate death, staffing pressures and steady jail population",110,150000,260000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5783796-032919f167a774c885e746f83fb06d5b&start=150&end=260","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5783796-032919f167a774c885e746f83fb06d5b/thumbnail_150000.jpg","/articles/6464438/Lackawanna-County/Pennsylvania/Lackawanna-County-warden-reports-inmate-death-staffing-pressures-and-steady-jail-population","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464438-09a1d2b1d567c307184ca8a9853dee9d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773570809&Signature=E4ZUuHRCsqNIUNcn-1gRGjU1OdGBDBMhMspq~-1zNFRUKex7ijuGIWKmWqOEY4Nz9Yoz6fsLzb49dpwsozJu7RnrRPQ08Idg4dMWQxwQHLWf1aEmlL-TU-pjWwfB2SD-jIcBax7wIMTgYe1pt-pfiqKxvD1RTECfx6YroGnPQEbh3TeKHVfob4eed4m2vNmUOuo~Tmo65oAYaRzgeZNyi-hZ9GCR0DGftorDugsN1svdWPf7kmGaw9gmDpBjyrTVUc~YSajb4br6lN1MFBn2tzAnpwjD-6YpyBqpxpP-7pCh~KQsIy-PbWNG7ejLf7yUCOqVvMTmAQ9EVdqKAsvs-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The warden of the Lackawanna County Prison reported at a county prison board meeting that the facility’s average daily population for August was 628 inmates and that an inmate found unconscious on Sept. 9 was later declared deceased.

The report said 478 of the August average were county inmates, with 573 adult males, 2 juvenile males and 53 adult females. The warden also reported an average daily population of 144 U.S. Marshals Service detainees and six Susquehanna County detainees.

The warden described three extraordinary occurrences: on Aug. 16 and Aug. 23 staff placed two aggressive detainees in an emergency restraint chair for safety; on Sept. 9 staff found an individual unconscious in a cell, performed CPR, summoned emergency medical services and the person was transported to a regional hospital and later declared deceased. The district attorney’s office and Pennsylvania State Police have been notified and an investigation is ongoing, the warden said.

The warden reported two PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) investigations completed in August; both were ruled unfounded and the completed investigations were forwarded to the district attorney’s office for possible further action.

The report gave a staffing and operations update: the facility’s correctional-officer complement was reported as 182 full-time officers overall, with 175 on staff, five on workers’ compensation, one on administrative leave and one full‑time vacancy; 74 staff were on intermittent FMLA. The prison’s operating budget figures were presented separately: as of Aug. 31 prison revenue was at 52% of year‑to‑date projections, expenses were at 66% and overtime was 46%, according to the warden’s summary.

The warden also described institutional job assignments and pay rates. He said there are 11 institutional jobs available for women, generally block-worker or reception/administrative positions; female offenders employed in these roles are paid $5 per day. Male institutional jobs include kitchen, laundry and maintenance assignments and generally pay $3 to $10 per day depending on duties and double shifts, the warden said.

The warden described the prison laundry process: clothing is laundered in mesh bags labeled with the inmate’s name and returned; staff acknowledged that items sometimes are lost when bags come apart in washers or dryers. The warden also said facility televisions have closed‑captioning capability and can be enabled on request.

Board members asked for additional reporting. One board member requested a two‑year monthly breakdown of the female population; the warden agreed to provide the reports.

After the presentation a motion to accept the warden’s report was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. All voting members present responded “aye,” and the motion carried.

The board’s acceptance of the report was procedural and did not enact new policy; board discussion and public questions about medical and mental‑health staffing, medication use and inmate services were raised during public comment and addressed separately by staff and board members.

","At a county prison board meeting, the warden reported an average daily population of 628, two August incidents requiring emergency restraints, an inmate found unconscious Sept. 9 who later died, two unfounded PREA complaints, and staffing and overtime pressures; the board voted to accept the report.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board authorizes hiring of Lieutenant Jennifer Luna at Lackawanna County Prison

Resentencing of community interest: advocates urge work‑release return, reentry festival and more programming at Lackawanna County Prison

Controller reports inmate and canteen account balances; board approves payables

Lackawanna County warden reports inmate death, staffing pressures and steady jail population