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Board reviews commissary proposals; Keefe Group recommended with lower commission rate
Summary
The prison review committee recommended entering negotiations with Keefe Group LLC for commissary services; Keefe proposed a 33% commission share vs the current provider's 38%, prompting public questions about pricing and use of canteen funds.
The Lackawanna County Prison review committee recommended the board enter contract negotiations with Keefe Group LLC for commissary services after evaluating proposals from the incumbent Oasis Management Systems and Keefe Group.
The recommendation drew public comment and questions about pricing, vendor practices and how canteen commissions are used. The warden told the board Keefe proposed a 33% commission to the county, lower than the existing 38% from Oasis, and that Keefe pledged to hold commissary prices at current levels for two years.
Denise Brown, a public commenter who provided a written submission, asked why the board would award the contract to Keefe given national reporting of high prices and service complaints at other jurisdictions. Brown cited 2024 figures — county commissary sales of $1,134,187 and commissions of $430,991 — and asked whether the county could reduce or eliminate commissions that some residents said burden families of incarcerated people.
The warden said Keefe’s offer included a lower commission rate and “a better new admission kit being offered, a better indigent kit being offered for the inmate population that are indigent, and also their promise to be keeping the current prices for 2 years.” He said the RFP requires vendors to keep prices “comparable to local businesses.” The warden also said Keefe’s 33% commission is lower than the current 38% and that county negotiators could seek a different rate during contract discussions.
Controller Gary DeBiglio’s earlier report showed the county’s canteen accounts are healthy: the inmate account balance was $468,672.05 and the canteen checking account was $531,695.06 as of Feb. 28, 2025. The controller also noted $947,813.27 in PLGIT investments tied to canteen funds. The warden said canteen account funds pay for recurring items such as newspapers, language-line services, haircuts and indigent kits and that the board controls final contracting and commission decisions.
The board did not vote on the commissary contract at the March meeting; the committee requested approval to enter negotiations with Keefe Group, and any final contract would be brought to the Board of Commissioners for approval after negotiations and legal review.
Why it matters: Commissary contracts affect prices paid by families and incarcerated people and determine a revenue stream that funds inmate services. Public commenters urged lower prices and highlighted that commission revenue has funded programs in the past.
What’s next: County staff will begin contract negotiations with Keefe Group per the review committee’s recommendation and will return to the commissioners with a negotiated contract for approval.
