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Public asks board to review emergency restraint chair use after two February incidents; PREA investigations reported unfounded
Summary
The warden reported two emergency restraint chair placements and three PREA investigations in February, all deemed unfounded; public commenters requested a policy review and more mental-health response for persons in crisis.
The Lackawanna County Prison warden reported two emergency restraint chair (ERC) placements in February 2025 and three PREA investigations — two inmate-on-inmate and one staff-on-inmate — that were all deemed unfounded and forwarded to the district attorney’s office for review.
A member of the public urged the board to review policies governing ERC use and to consider earlier deployment of mental-health providers for detainees who present with severe anxiety or suicidal ideation, rather than immediate mechanical restraints.
The warden said the first ERC incident occurred Feb. 6 after an inmate reported suicidal thoughts and “began to quickly decompensate,” requiring placement in the emergency restraint chair for safety. On Feb. 16, staff received a newly committed individual who showed severe anxiety, was unable to follow orders and expressed suicidal thoughts; staff again used the ERC because of irrational behavior, the warden reported.
The warden said medical staff are contacted in nearly every event and are always consulted after placement in the ERC. "We would check up with our medical provider before an action is taken and 100% of the time we're touching base with them after a person's placed in the ERC," the warden said. The warden also said PREA allegations are investigated by one designated investigator and forwarded to the DA’s office for potential action.
Frank Malachire, a public commenter identified himself and asked whether the prison’s solitary and ERC policies would be made public; he asked for a timeline for review. The warden said a draft solitary policy exists, would be circulated to board members and then made public after review.
Why it matters: Use of mechanical restraints and solitary confinement raises safety, mental-health and policy concerns for incarcerated individuals and the county. The public requested clearer timelines and review of ERC policy to ensure appropriate medical and mental-health responses.
What’s next: The warden said the solitary-policy draft will be circulated to board members for review and made publicly available once the board completes its review. Public commenters asked that ERC usage policy be reviewed as well.
