Prison board approves $254,815 in camera and recruitment contracts as warden outlines staffing, security upgrades

Chester County Board of Inspectors approved an amendment and two contracts totaling $254,815 on Jan. 22 to add indoor cameras and pay for correctional officer recruitment services at the county prison, board members said.

The contracts come as Warden Gordon Roberts told the board the facility is addressing staffing shortages and completing security upgrades including new cameras, a fence-intrusion ("pit") detection system and expanded razor wire.

Roberts reported that the average daily inmate population for December 2024 was 673, down from 681 in December 2023; the total number of inmates committed to Chester County as of Dec. 31, 2024, was 669. He said there were no juveniles housed during the month. Central booking processed about 1,740 bookings in December; roughly half were released on bail and the remainder were committed. The county correctional center housed 31 residents in December, compared with 23 the prior year. Roberts said two transports to state correctional institutions during the month moved 15 individuals; 25 additional…