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