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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 3-P - 3-15-1972 - PRISON BOARD3�4,/zJSAL.ARY MINUTE, BOOK BOARD OF' COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN. JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS Minute No. 3 -P Office of the County Commissioners Washington, Pa., March 15, 1972 The Prison$oard of the County of Washington met in the Commissioners' Conference Room at 11:30 a. m. , Wednesday, March 15, 1972, with the following members being present: District Attorney Costa; Sheriff Debreczeni; Controller Elish; Commissioner Flynn; Commissior. - er Jones; Judge Marion; Commissioner Paluso. Absent being: Judge Curran; Judge DiSalle; and Judge Gladden. Also present being: Warden Roupe; Chief Clerk Murphy; and Reporter Roule of the Monongahela Publishing Company. Meeting called to order by Vice -Chairman Debreczeni. Vice -Chairman asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions to Minute No. 2-P, dated February 16, 1972, each member of the board having received a copy. as read. Moved by Judge Marano, seconded by Mr. Elish, that Minute No. 2-P be approved, Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board, signifying their approval verbally, by stating "Aye. " Report on Inspection of Jail by Mr. Flynn and Mr. Jones: Commissioner Flynn presented a report of the inspection of jail facilities on March 14, 1972. A copy of said report is attached on page 2-a and made a part of the records. Mr. Flynn: We are following some of the recommendations made by the two previous gentlemen who made the inspection. As far as the painting of the overall interior is concerned, after dis- cussing this yesterday with Mr. Roupe and his staff, it was agreed upon that the most practical thing to do would be wait until after we have installed the new heating system, which is going to require some work in the Jail Facilities. What Mr. Roupe is doing is just in order to make the place look presentable (touch-up painting instead of overall painting). Estimated cost - $4000 (inquiry was made by Mr. Roupe) Solicitor Capano entered the meeting. Judge Sweet entered the meeting. Warden's Report: Warden Roupe reported that the upgrading of the physical plant was completed on the eighth of this month. The work done by steelworkers, carpenters, electricians, TV -Men and plumbers was completed on March 8. The month before last Captain Witzeling and Dennis Walters attended a correctional workship at Penn State University. Some of the topics were: The Jail is Unknown to the Public; Community Support for the Prisons; Attitude of Staff; Notori- ous Inmates; Physical Appearance of the Prison. The correctional officers attending the workshop 1 C o,eQ SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. SEYEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS Ll 1 3.greed with their President Judge that the Bureau of Corrections is too lenient on furloughs. Since last week, spots were welded intact by the plumbers and steelworkers. Spot painting was done. The shower room floor was sealed with rubber paint. The visiting room area was cor- rected for more security. Sheets and pillow cases have been ordered. The holding cells have been painted, renovated, and given more lighting. - Rev. Broekuizen wants to become part-time now and has assigned two of his laymen Mr. Hotchkiss and Mr. Henning. Mr. R,oupe went over the program with them, in reference to church counseling for the inmates. The School program is moving along fine -- three nights a week. We have thirteen men on work release at the present time. We ,also have a female federal prisoner for a two year sentence on work release. Mr. Roupe thanked the board for their patien--e while this capital improvement was going on through the help of the Crime Commission. Remarks: Mr. Jones: One thing I would like to point out,. Mr. Chairman, you ref ere to the arrangement :)f the bunks in the cells. I think this is a very important part of the job down there. When one :)f the prisoners starts acting up or someone gets sick amongthe prisoners and we have to get .um out of the cell (say on a stretcher). If you arrange than, then at least whoever had to go in ;here to get these people had room to work and they would be able to get in and out of the cells. Phis is very good. Judge Sweet spoke of the Raftbone Case. He stated that we are going to see more sentencing to the County Jail and less to the regional jail in the year to come and he thought some, of the members would be interested in hearing some of the details of the Raftbone Case. Raftbone, from .Canonsburg, was first sentenced by Judge Sweet for receiving stolen goods in 1970 and was given 23 1 /2 months of probation to put him in the halfway house in Grubstake in Pittsburgh, providing that if he escaped from there it would count as prison breach. He went ;o Grubstake and escaped the next day. Eventually we caught him and in 1970 he committed some 3ther offenses. Judge DiSalle sentenced him in 1971 for prison breach, parole violation, bur- ;lary and larceny to 23 1 /2 months in Grubstake. There were three other charges pending him. The State Police want him for burglary and larceny of a residence. The Canonsburg Police want zim for car theft. Allegheny County has an inditement against him for violation of the uniform 'firearms act. This chamption with two prison breaches (one from Grubstake and one from ,xreensburg in December of 1971), they thought was a good subject for rehabilitation and home treatment. They let him come over here and he told a counselor a line about there were guns ie wanted to find in the hotel. He went in the hotel leaving his counselor on the street and es- 2apted. Judge Sweet called in this morning before giving the Pittsburgh Post Gazette a statemen- :)n the matter. Raftbone has not been found. When he is found he will face firearms charges in 16,so�,�oAaSALARY MINUTE B❑❑K BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P, BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS 0 Allegheny County, burglary here, car theft here and now prison breach here. In the meantime I'm not so sure I want to send too many people to Greensburg if they think that guy is a good prospect for release. I imagine Judge DiSalle, whose prisoner he technically is, will feel the same way I do. Prison Bills for the Month of February 1972: . Prison bills for the month of February 1972 were read by Controller Elish in the amount of $3430. 80 (2118 Prison Days) a list of said billy attached hereto and made a part hereof. payment. Moved by Mr. Jones, seconded by Judge Marino, that the bills be approved for, Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board, signifying their approval verbally, by stating "Aye. " Moved by Mr. Elish, seconded by. Mr. Costa, that the meeting adjourn. Meeting adjourned. Page 2-a March 15, 1972 To: Washington County Prison Board Gentlemen: In compliance with the Directive issued by the Honorable Thomas Gladden, Chair- man of the Prison Board, We, the undersigned, made a thorough inspection of the Jail facilities on March 14, 1972, As a result of this inspection, our findings were as follows: (a) The Walls around the sinks in the Hospital area have been painted. (b) The Mens Room is in excellent condition and the equipment that was in room has been stored in the so-called "tunnel" where it was originally. (c) The Laundry has been spot -painted and in immaculate condition. (d) The Holding Cells have been repainted both on the interior and exterior. They have been painted a light color. Lighting space has been cut in the ceilings which would permit adequate lighting that would be required. These Holding Cells were constructed within the past two (2) years based upon recommendations of the Inspectors of the State Bureau of Corrections and are an absolute necessity to maintain control of disorderly prisoners. (e) The Walk in Cooler is in good condition. We have been informed that it would not be practical to install a fan in the walk in collers hopefully to prevent the icing of the coils. (f) The Women's Cell Block is in excellent condition both with equipment and clean- liness of equipment. A metal clothing closet has been purchased so that personal effects of the inmates would be secure, (g) Provisions have been made by the Commissioners in their Capital Improvement Program to repair the leaking conditions of the roof, (h) After consultation with the Warden and his assistants, that sinks be provided to provide hot and cold water for shaving proposes for the inmates on the outside - that is, on the end of the range.