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Prison board backs recommendation for Johnson College training MOU
Summary
The Lackawanna County Prison Board voted May 20 to recommend a memorandum of understanding with Johnson College to deliver certificate-based trade and safety courses to selected inmates, citing grant-funded pilot results and potential to improve employability and reduce recidivism.
The Lackawanna County Prison Board on May 20 voted to recommend that county commissioners approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Johnson College to offer certificate-based courses to selected inmates.
The board made the recommendation after Warden and staff introduced the proposed MOU and Dr. Katie Patelli, president and CEO of Johnson College, described the program’s results in other counties. "This prison education program is something I really wanted to get off the ground," Patelli said, noting Johnson College began its work with seed funding from the Sardoni Family Foundation and has operated pilots in Wayne and Pike counties. She told the board the college has trained about 46 men and women in OSHA 10 and customer-service basics and has added electrical-code safety to its offerings.
Why it matters: County officials said the courses are intended to increase employability and reduce recidivism. The program is offered at no charge to inmates and has been supported by outside grants, Patelli said; the college described ongoing outreach to Pennsylvania Higher Education in Prison (PHEP) and foundation funders to expand offerings.
Board action and next steps: The board voted to recommend approval of the MOU (motion 26-3025). A solicitor noted edits were needed to clarify insurance language so the wording aligns with county coverage; the board carried the recommendation after that caveat. The MOU will next be considered by the Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners for final approval.
Context and details: Warden testimony framed the MOU as a memorandum authorizing Johnson College staff to instruct selected inmates in certificate-based courses that could be stacked toward further credentials. Patelli said the program delivers instruction using college equipment and live remote instruction from campus instructors, and that Johnson College has operated the curriculum without charging inmates by relying on grant funding.
What to watch for: The vote on the MOU by the county commissioners and any final language clarifying insurance responsibility and program terms.
