Warden reports staffing shortfall and rising population; board approves minutes, expenditures and two hires
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Summary
At its April meeting, the Lycoming County prison board approved routine items and heard from the Warden about a staffing shortfall of more than 10 officers, an average daily inmate population near 296 and mental-health and medication rates affecting roughly 38–40% of inmates.
The Lycoming County prison board approved the previous meeting’s minutes, accepted the monthly expenditure report and approved two personnel actions while the Warden warned the facility remains over 10 correctional officers short and that inmate populations and mental-health needs are substantial.
The Warden said the board was being asked to approve two personnel actions: hiring Cole Gregerson as a full-time correctional officer (relief) and converting Don Miller at the prerelease center to full-time resident supervisor. After a motion and second, the board recorded aye responses and moved forward with the items.
Why it matters: staffing shortages and inmate mental-health caseloads affect facility operations, programming and staffing strategies. The Warden’s report showed an average daily population across the prison system of about 296 and highlighted medication and mental-health roster breakdowns that staff said require continued attention.
Details from the report: the Warden told the board that in March the prison carried an average of 205.9 males and the prerelease center averaged 44.84 males; the systemwide average daily population was reported as 296.23 with a monthly peak of 305. For females the Warden reported averages of 29.81 at the prison and 15.68 at the prerelease center with a system average of 45.48 and a peak of 51. On disciplinary matters, the Warden said there were 63 hearings in March: 61 guilty findings with lockup time imposed, one guilty finding with lockup time suspended and one not-guilty finding; 36 inmates had hearings and nine had more than one incident.
On staffing the Warden said the facility is “still more than 10 officers down,” citing problems with the county’s advertisement service and low applicant turnout, and noted difficulties getting candidates to arrive for interviews. A board member asked the Warden whether the county could do more to recruit; the Warden said human resources is trying creative approaches but that advertising limitations have constrained outreach.
Mental-health snapshot: a census taken April 7 showed 320 inmates systemwide. The Warden presented roster categories and percentages: roster A (no mental-health history) 119 inmates (37.19%), roster B (past history, no active symptoms) 67 inmates (20.94%), roster C (current mental-health issues) 117 inmates (36.56%), and roster D (serious mental illness) 17 inmates (5.31%). The Warden also reported medication rates by location: for example, 34.09% of male prerelease inmates and 60% of female prerelease inmates were receiving psychotropic medications; the systemwide medication rate was given as approximately 38.8%.
Operational highlights and training: the Warden summarized recent training and program activity, including a March tour for a Lycoming College community-corrections class, staff attendance at hostage-negotiation, Glock Armor and TASER-instructor trainings, and the expansion of the hostage-negotiation team to include representatives from the district attorney’s office and the West Branch Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission.
Reported savings: the Warden reported that Cost Management Plus, through the prison inmate medical cost containment (PIMIC) program, indicated health-care savings of $408,511.84 for outpatient services and $169,813.52 for inpatient services for the period Sept. 2025 through Feb. 2026.
Personnel recognition and next steps: the board thanked Chris Ebner for more than three decades of county service and noted his planned upcoming retirement. The board set its next meeting for May 8, 2026 and adjourned.
Votes at a glance: the board approved the prior meeting minutes (voice vote; three 'aye' responses recorded), accepted the expenditure report (voice vote; two 'aye' responses recorded) and approved the two personnel actions (voice vote).
