Warden reports staffing, medical caseloads and facility needs; board urged to consider using canteen funds for dishwasher replacement

Warden Kathy Alden told the Lackawanna County Prison Board on Dec. 2 that November’s average daily population was 634 and provided a staffing and budget update, while flagging operational needs including a failing institutional dishwasher and outstanding personnel changes.

Population, staffing and personnel Alden reported an average daily population (including county inmates and out-of-county detainees) she stated as 634 for November. She said the facility had 173 correctional officers on shift, with several officers on workers’ compensation and intermittent FMLA and currently four full-time vacancies producing a total of 182 full-time officers on the books. Overtime was reported at 58% for the year-to-date period noted; the Warden provided linked overtime and out-of-county boarding reports.

Personnel items Alden announced the retirement of Robert McPhillips after a 32-year career beginning in November 1993, and named resignations for Lieutenant Arthur McKenna and Councillor Colby White; the vacancies were posted on the county website.

PREA and medical services The Warden said two PREA investigations completed in November — one alleging inmate-on-inmate misconduct and one alleging staff-on-inmate misconduct — were both deemed unfounded. The investigation paperwork has been forwarded to the district attorney’s office for further action if the DA deems it appropriate.

Reporting on medical services provided by Armour Health, the Warden read numbers for November: 199 initial assessments, 53 who were detoxing or detoxed, a mental health caseload of 113, 207 psychotropic prescriptions recorded for the month, six ER visits and 10 hospitalizations. Alden said a separate behavior-watch report for the month was not yet available and would be provided next month.

Dishwasher replacement request Alden said the prison’s large institutional dishwasher — a 2016 model — has required repeated repairs, costing roughly $15,000 in the past three to four months. She told the board a new purchase could cost about $100,000 based on state CoStar vendor pricing but said rental or other vendor programs could be alternatives. The Warden asked the board to consider authorizing use of canteen account funds for replacement, saying the equipment directly affects sanitation and inmate meal service. The board discussed options and asked staff to look into rental alternatives and vendor pricing; the Warden said she would report back in January.

Community Corrections summary and public comment The chief of staff for Community Corrections reported adult house arrest totals and revenues for November (adult participants 95, juvenile 22; adult revenue $27,303.99, juvenile $4,750, about $32,000 for the month) and a year-to-date revenue figure of $494,353.22; program expenses for the month were $73,602.37, with 13 completions and eight violations returned to the office. During public comment, Dr. Barrows of Scranton requested a TV and Blu-ray/DVD player for chapel classes; board members said a TV had been approved and asked Dr. Barrows to follow up for confirmation.

Board direction and follow-up The board accepted the Warden’s report and congratulated long-serving staff in the meeting. The controller and Warden will return with clarified figures: the controller will report the exact reinvestment rates after the Jan. maturities, and the Warden will follow up on dishwasher procurement options and any recommended use of canteen funds.