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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 12-P - 12-18-1974 - PRISON BOARDklsolt) o S A L A R Y BOARD OF COUNTY COE\4MISSFONERS MINUTE BOOK 1415 WASHINGTO14 COUNTY, PENNSYLIFANIA Mlcwmm R. FG.tirfmiF Jomm P. BIEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, C0VWfSSMK6M Minute No. 12-P Office of the County Commissioners Washington, Pa., December 18, 1974 The Prison Board of the County of Washington met in the Public Meeting Room at 11:30 a.m. , Wednesday, December 18, 1974, with the following members being present: Sheriff Debreczeni; Commissioner Flynn; Judge Gladden; Judge Hanna; Commissioner Jones Controller Mascara; Commissioner Paluso and Judge Simmons. Absent being: District Attorney Costa and Judge DiSalle. Also being present: Warden Roupe, Mr. Whalen, Solicitor Bigi, Bob Robertson of the Observer -Reporter, Richard Boardley, George Modr and Mark Culleton. Chairman asked if there were any corrections, additions, or omissions to Minute No. 11-P, dated November 20, 1974, each member having received a copy. Moved by Judge Hanna, seconded by Commissioner Jones, that Minute No. 11-P be approved as circulated. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally by stating "Aye." Warden's Report Warden Roupe stated that the month of November was very satisfactory and that operations in the jail were excellent. Warden Roupe stated that the juvenile problems have been worked out and that there were no other problems. Warden Roupe stated that the out prisoners and the week -end prisoners were also satisfactory. Warden Roupe also stated that the juveniles' schedules were changed and Judge Simmons stated that this was satisfactory. Old Business: Judge Gladden then gave the following report and stated that it was to become part of the record: The Special Committee of the Washington County Prison Board met on November 29, 1974. Those present were Judge Gladden, Chairman; Frank Mascara, Controller; Alex Debreczeni, Sheriff. Commissioner Flynn and Judge Simmons notified the Chairman that official duties prevented their attendance. The Committee was called into session when a letter from an inmate of the jail directed to the local newspaper was brought to the attention of the Prison Board. This letter listed several complaints which the Board asked the committee to consider. After discussing the contents of the letter and exchanging points of view on the, substance of the charges, the method of investigating the charges, and the possible bias of members of the Board and the committee, it was decided that an investigation of these particular charges as well as conditions at the jail in general would be handled best through an impartial body of private citizens. To that end, the committee agreed to ask the Board of Judges to appoint a Board of Visitors as provided for by statute 416 Also)ZoArz,D SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS of the Commonwealth. This Board of Visitors will be made aware of the subject letter and will be asked to make an objective evaluation of the complaints listed therein. The request was communicated by the Chairman to the Judges and a Board of Visitors has been appointed. Judge Gladden then submitted the report to the Chairman along with the subject letter and the editorial that appeared in the Observer -Reporter. Moved by Judge Gladden, seconded by Judge Simmons that the above report as pre- sented by Judge Gladden be made part of official record. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval ver- bally by stating "Aye." (Copies of letter and editorial are attached to official minutes.) Controller Mascara stated that at the last meeting, he said that by January he expected to implement county procedures for the Washington County Prison Welfare Fund, and noted that each member was given a copy of the Cash and Bank Summary that will be instituted at the jail with the cooperation of the Warden. Controller Mascara stated that a commissary inventory will be taken on December 31, 1974, and starting in January 1975, the above -mentioned form will be used. Mr. Mascara stated that he expected to have a profit -loss statement at least once a month if possible. Controller Mascara then stated that the above form will be used to record the commissary's activities. (Judge Sweet entered the meeting.) New Business: Chairman then read a letter from Frank Mascara, Controller, which stated that Mr. Richard Boardley, Jr., requested to appear at the Prison Board meeting to discuss the possibility of implementing an Alcoholics Anonymous Program (AA) at the County Jail. Said letter stated that Mr. Boardley had contacted the Warden in the past concerning this 1 matter, but received no reply. Mr. Boardley then presented his ideas to the Board concerning the establishment - of an AA Program in the jail. Mr. Boardley then explained to the Board how he got interested in the program and stated that he now has a program at the Washington Hospit and the Centerville Clinic, both which are doing very well. (Remarks:) Judge Hanna asked what type of program Mr. Boardley had in mind. Mr. Boardley stated that he thought the prisoners could get together to meet for a half- hour, hour, or whatever possible. Mr. Boardley stated that a committee will be appoint with 4-5 members to operate this program so there will always be someone present. Judge Sweet noted that Mr. Modrak was on the Board of the Washington County Council for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse where we have our present program of counseling for the alcohol? related offenses, and asked Mr. Modtak if he thought that this AA Program would supplement, follow or replace this counseling. Mr. Modrak stated that he thought Mr. Boardley was very dedicated and that this program would be a very efficient supplement to the present program. Judge Sweet asked Mr. Boardley if it was correct that the Program does not take any SALARY MINUTE BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY C©MMPSS ERS WASHING -MN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANLA M1cHA, L R_ FLY144, Jc*+14 F. BL,4Ec, Jowft MmzA, CCWrtwsswn A0 1 I� involuntary referrals; that the individual must ask to get help. Mr. Boardley stated that this was correct. Warden Roupe then stated that he had talked to Mr. Boardley previously and stated that he thinks the Courts are very familiar with the procedures used by the magistrates during the last couple of years. Warden stated that there is presently one alcoholic in the jail, and stated that the only possible time for Mr. Boardley to meet with him would be on a week- day around 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. , because of all of the other activities detail, general visits, Sunday services, etc. )''' Commissioner Flynn then quoted from the book titled "AA in Prison" which stated how an AA program is started in the prisons. Moved by Controller Mascara, seconded by Mr. Jones, that the offer made by Mr. Boardley to start an Alcoholics Anonymous Program in the Washington County Jail be accepted. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally by stating "Aye." (Remarks:) Commissioner Flynn then complimented Mr. Boardley on his participation and interest in the AA Program. Judge Sweet stated for the record that this AA Program is a supplement to, and not a replacement of our present program. Prison Bills for the Month of November, 1974: Prison Bills for the month of November, 1974, in the amount of $6, 281. 19 (Prison Days - 2802). Income from units for the use of the County Prison: Prisoners Board $1, 050. 00 United States Marshal $1, 72 1.44 Westmoreland County $1, 36 1. 00 Immigration Service $ 14.84 TOTAL INCOME Average cost per day - $2.24 (Remarks:) $4, 147.28 Average prisoners Per day - 93.4 Judge Gladden questioned the bill for medical expenses from the Washington Hospital in the amount of $636.60. Chairman then explained that the bill was for x-rays and surgery for Mr. Unrue4, who had a cancerous disease and had to have a piece of his jawbone removed. Mr. Murphy slipped in the shower and was taken to the hospital. Controller Mascara then asked about the prisoners board; how it worked, what the charges are, etc. Warden Roupe stated that the charge for work -related prisoners is $15.00, $10.00 for week -end prisoners and no charge for juveniles. payment. Moved by Judge Simmons, seconded by Judge Sweet, that the bills be approved Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally by stating "Aye.11 �c Meeting adjourned. THE FOREGOING MINUTES READ AND APPROVED: ATTEST: cember 18 CRETARY , 1974 g s o�, 36,42z SALARY MINUTE BDOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 1 Z,-,4Af.OSALARY MINUTE BOO '41 BOARD OF COUNTY COMN411SSEC ERS W ASHtNGTO14 COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Micfwm R. FLY7*N, JOH14 P. BEVEC, J01+N MA2ZA, COMMMOOROW LJ [i Leber Froirni The Jail As most readers are already aware, a recent change in policy requires not only that all letters to the editor must be signed but that the signatures must be published with the Ictters. In light of this policy, those unsigned letters which we still receive are read but quickly filed for a short time for reference and then destroyed. Occasionally, however, an unsigned letter arrives which presents a Tightly different problem although not a problem of breaking the rule against publishing unsigned letters. One arrived this week. It was from a risoner at the Washington County Jail. Anyone who has processed letters to the editorover a period of time has had experience with letters from jails and prisons. They usually fall into two categories. One is a complaint against the injustice of the handling of thecase that sent the prisoner to jail. The other is a complaint against conditions in- side the jail. In the case of the letter at hand, it is the latter. We have had a little experience with _both prisoners and jails and recognize a number of things. One is that jails are not pleasant places. even the most modern of them, and the Washington County jail is old. Another is that local jails particularly are operated under financial restrictions that pre- vent many of the barest niceties from being afforded the prisoners. Another is that jails and prisons are not really meant to be pleasant, regardless of modern views on rehabilitation. They are not, however, places where pris- oners should be mistreated or de- humanized. They are also ~:aces where a group of people sham mon misery, a common dens.- ,r,m- ' mon complaints and where these complaints are multiplied a:.-- mag- nified even by the sharing. For all of these and other r_�sons. this letter became one we w not � choose to ignore even though can- not publish its full contents. 1 Sufficient for the purposes h-:-- is it, to say that the complaints --.aged from concern that unsenteuc. _ Jris- oners are treated the same Lz sen- tenced prisoners, that jug: en:.. , are kept in the county jail, to terrih. `,-,od. They range from lack o; b,::.inen and pillov, cases and the use _ my a single blanket and no heat t(� .-~ade- quate medical facilities The complaints include inw, =. har- assment bet«een guards and __:son- ers, failure of authorities to 1:_ en to complaints, failure to tell psis.- rs i[ they have an attorney, to sever- undi- tions for prisoners in solita:" con- finement. As we said. complaints frc Ails and prisons can ordinarily be taken with a grain of salt, as the sayir.; ;oes. but in this case the complaintz _over such a wide range. involve an .-_titu- i tion so close to us and involve -:ople ,who may be friends, neighbors :r ac- quaintances of many of our r-aders . that we hesitated to ignore the :-�_:er. Realizing that we risk being 4::;:sed of passing the buck, what we cis: :se to do is transmit the unsigned Ic—er to the County Prison Board which ever- i sees the operation of the county -ail. j In its wisdom, or in its m-nthly meeting, perhaps it can wzcide } whether -this is indeed another an of the mill complaint or whether ii would 1 be worthwhile to look into the rr, ::ter.