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Residents and advocates press Clearfield County to oppose renewal of Moshening detention contract, demand oversight
Summary
Multiple residents and advocates told commissioners they had witnessed or documented inadequate medical care, deaths in custody, and rights violations at the Moshening (Mo Shannon) detention facility and urged the county to vote against contract renewal, demand independent oversight and clarify contingency plans.
Public commenters used the Board of Commissioners meeting to demand the county block any renewal of its contract with the privately operated Moshening (also referenced as "Mo Shannon" / Mount Shannon) detention facility and to demand independent oversight and transparency.
One speaker described multiple deaths and alleged rights violations and pressed the board to refuse a renewal. "Died in custody at MVPC, found hanging in the cell's shower unit, a tragedy reported by numerous agencies," the commenter said, and added: "I urge you to, 1, vote no on the deal group, contract renewal. And 2, if the renewal is considered, demand independent oversight, full transparency, and immediate correction of all human rights violations." Several other residents backed similar calls, describing poor food, limited access to medical care and questions about whether the facility's reported local economic benefits justify continuing the contract.
Speakers noted public‑safety and humanitarian concerns alongside economic tradeoffs. Jaime Martinez told commissioners the facility has had high rates of solitary confinement and asked them to make public, on the record, commitments to oppose renewal: "We're asking for MoShannon to close," Martinez said. Another commenter who identified as a frequent visitor described what they said were low‑quality meals and difficulty securing medical care for people inside the facility.
Commissioners accepted public comment and did not take an immediate vote on any contract action during the meeting. The speakers asked for explicit, on‑the‑record commitments from named commissioners and urged the board to use any remaining contract time to press ICE and the contractor for information and remedial steps.
