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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 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.
