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Warden reports declining population, staffing gains and ongoing facility upgrades at Chester County correctional facility
Summary
At the June 25 meeting, the Chester County Prison Board received the Warden’s May operations report showing a lower average daily population than a year earlier, staffing gains but remaining supervisor vacancies, and planned HVAC, roof and security upgrades slated through 2025.
The Warden reported to the Chester County Prison Board on June 25 that the facility’s average daily inmate population for May 2025 was 657, down from 709 in May 2024.
The monthly operations update, delivered at the board’s June 25 meeting, included intake, medical, disciplinary and staffing data and outlined ongoing facility projects. The Warden said total inmates in custody at the county prison on May 31, 2025, numbered 672 and that no juveniles were housed during the month.
The report noted central booking processed 136 individuals from 42 agencies in May. The correctional center population was listed as 26 residents, with an average daily female population of 2 (the transcript compared that to 33 for May 2024). The Warden said there were three transports to state correctional institutions and a total of 21 people sent to state facilities during the month.
Medical and behavioral-health indicators provided to the board included 46 medical transports in May; a restricted-housing population of 21; 74 major-misconduct disciplinary hearings; and 158 inmate conference hearings, which the Warden said produced an approximate savings of $15,800. The Warden reported that about 62% of the population are on medical medications, 44% are on psychotropic medications and 8% were on suicide watch.
Staffing and training drew extended discussion. The Warden told the board seven officers completed the county training academy in May. He said six employees were no longer employed at the prison, five staff started on May 27, ten started on June 23, and five were scheduled to start July 7. As of June 25, the Warden summarized, six had left and 15 had started during the recent period for a net increase of nine employees.
Despite the net gain, the Warden said the facility still has front-line supervisory vacancies. He listed vacancies for eight corporals, two sergeants and one lieutenant, and also reported openings in a kitchen supervisor position and maintenance. The Warden described efforts to backfill through promotions and to repurpose first-line supervisors as field training officers when needed.
On facility improvements, the Warden told the board that all HVAC units at the facility were expected to be operational by July and that phase 1 of a roof project is complete; phase 2 was scheduled to start in August with the goal of completing the full roof work before the end of 2025. He said ventilation work in the basement was expected to be completed by July. The board was also told the perimeter intrusion detection system (PIDS) rollout is encountering electronic integration issues between fence sensors and controls and that staff are working through those technical problems. The drone program, limited in cost, is continuing with upcoming pilot training, and fire-panel improvements and painting work at the correctional center are under way.
Board members asked questions about training completion and retention, 12-hour shift scheduling, and how the facility plans to sustain staffing improvements through recruitment, social-media outreach and partnerships with schools. The Warden said the county has brought roughly 50 applicants “through the door” since January and that additional recruiting platforms are being considered to increase academy class sizes this fall.
The Warden concluded the report and invited questions; no formal board action on the report itself was recorded in the meeting transcript.
The board then moved to interim matters and other agenda items.
