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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - 23-P - 11-26-1975 - PRISON BOARD1464 S;ALAFRY°MINUTE BQL7K BOARD .OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS , WASHINGTON COUNTY„ PENNSYL,VANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN. JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS Minute No. 23-P Office of the County Commissioners Washington, Pa., November 26, 1975 The regular monthly meeting of the Washington County Prison Board was held on Wednesday, November 26, 1975, at 11:30 a.m. , in the Public Meeting Room with the following members being present: Sheriff Debreczeni; Commissioner Flynn; Judge Gladden; Controller Mascara; Commissioner Paluso and Judge Sweet. (Judge DiSalle entered the meeting later.) Absent being: District Attorney Costa; Judge Hanna; Commissioner Jones and Judge Simmons. Also being present: Deputy Warden Johns; Beaver Perkins, Volunteers -In -Probation Coordinator; Reverend Van Riper; Peyton Schur, State Director for Offender Aid and Restoration Program and Bob Robertson from the Observer -Reporter. Chairman asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions to Minute No. 22-P, each member having received a copy. Moved by Commissioner Flynn, seconded by Judge Gladden, that Minute No. 22-P be approved as circulated. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally by stating I'Aye." Warden's Report: Deputy Warden Johns stated that operations at the County Jail during the past month have been normal. Mr. Johns stated that the Warden's Workshop was held in Clarion on October 9, 10, and 11, 1975. The Honorable Robert Filson of Clarion County gave a very interesting talk regarding recent court decisions affecting prison and jail administratio and the due process of law. Mr. Johns stated that the workshop consisted of helping veterans in jail, law libraries in county prisons, legal rights of the warden as relating to sentenced and unsentenced prisoners and parole violators in county prisons, and unioni- zation as it pertains to prison administration. Deputy Warden Johns also informed the Board of a letter from Dean Gross, Executive Director of the Citizens Library which stated that they have received a grant to provide books. Mr. Johns stated that a new unit was installed in the ice machine and that bids will be let for a new clothes washer. Deputy Warden Johns then thanked the members of the Board who attended the dedication ceremonies in the recreation yard last month. Judge Sweet stated that he has a matter which came , before him this morning. Judge Sweet stated that he has a prisoner before him this morning for parole or work release who was represented by private counsel. Judge Sweet stated that this prisoner had claimed that, with the help of a minister, he had kicked his alcohol habit. Judge SALARY MINUTE BOOK � 5 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS Sweet stated that he decided to keep the prisoner in over the holidays so that he wouldn't be tempted too much, and maybe release him in January. Judge Sweet stated that the prisoner stated that if he didn't want to kidk the habit, it is very easy to get a drink in jail. He stated that the out prisoners bring the stuff in steadily, that there is a drink available "upstairs" at any time. Judge Sweet stated that the prisoner's name is Williams and that he is being represented by Attorney Michael A. Hanna. Judge Sweet stated that Williams has a Presbyterian minister present with him during his testimony. Judge Sweet stated that he has heard rumors to this effect frequently, but he has never received testi- mony in open court to that effect. Judge Sweet stated that the Board should know that the charge is made openly and in support of a prisoner's application for release. Judge Sweet stated that since we've had cooperation from the AA people, he is particularly discouraged to know that it is possible for a prisoner to get a drink almost any time he wants, or at least that it is so charged. Judge Sweet stated that he thinks it was to Williams' dis- advantage to tell him this and that the testimony was taped and has been taken in case anyone is interested in looking at it. Judge Sweet stated that, of course, the prisoner can be lying - he has- a record of aggravated assualt and battery, public drunkedness, resisting arrest and other such crimes. (Judge Di.Salle entered the meeting.) R emarks : Deputy Warden Johns suggested that someone investigate the matter, because the prisoners are stripped and frisked when they enter the jail and it is impossible for them'to have alcohol. Judge Sweet stated that the prisoner has a record of violent crimes, but none for dishonest crimes such as theft or burglary. Judge Sweet stated that a minister was present who talked about his efforts to beat the habit and there was a letter from our own county supported drug and alcoholic unit recommending his release. Judge Sweet stated that he thought the Board has some responsibility in the matter. Moved by Mr. Mascara, seconded by Judge Gladden, that this matter be referred to the Committee for investigation. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval verbally by stating "Aye." Remarks: Mr. Paluso asked when the Committee will report back to the Board. Chairman stated that the Committee will look into the matter, and if they feel that it is a serious matter that deserves immediate attention, he will call a special meeting of the Prison Board. Mr. Flynn stated that all prisoners coming into the prison are stripped and frisked, and that the Judge stated that the weekend prisoners are bringing the alcohol into the prison. Deputy Warden Johns stated that this was impossible. Judge Sweet stated that there are a lot of men who go out to a job everyday and come back in at night. He stated that there is a larger group of men that come in every weekend, serve a couple of days and go out. Sweet stated that these prisoners will increase rather that decrease in number over the years because that's the current fashion in that field. Judge Sweet stated that this imposes a heavy burden on the Warden and that this is one of the reasons they wanted a room for those people completely away from other parts of the jail. 66 14 SALARY MINtJTE'BD©K BOARDOF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P_ BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS Judge Gladden stated that when he was an attorney, he represented a man who said that he escaped from jail because he was drunk. When asked where he got the alcohol, he said that the got it "upstairs" on the third floor of the courthouse. Judge Gladden stated that the sheriff went up into the room and came back with an armful of alcoholic beverage . Judge Gladden stated that maybe there is alcohol in the courthouse. Deputy Warden Johns stated that the trusties are stripped and searched three times a day. Mr. Johns stated that the two additional men on night turn are helping considerably with problems at the jail. Chairman stated that this matter will be referred to the Committee. New Business: None Old Business: Commissioner Flynn referred to a question that was raised by Judge Sweet regardi Lg the cost of prisoners. Mr. Flynn stated that on August 15, 1975, a report was filed by the Justice Department, and another on September 17, 1975. Mr. Flynn stated that the overall condition of the jail is in very good shape. He stated that the average cost to feed one inmate per day in August of 1974, was $1.89. According to the report of September 17, 1975, the estimated cost was $1.47. Mr. Flynn stated that the average cost to maintain the inmate per day in 1974 according to the report was $7.42 and the average cost in the September 1975 report was $9.93. Remarks: Judge Sweet stated that we are spending $2.50 more per prisoner per day in gross and 40� less on the food account. Mr. Mascara stated that on November 1974, it was $2.24 and this month the average is $2.46 - a 22� difference. Mr. Mascara stated that as Mr. Flynn pointed out it was $1.89 in February 1974, so it is fluctuating from a low of $1.89 to a high of $2.74. Judge Sweet stated that quantity buying could account for some of this. (Earl Bugaile of WKEG Radio entered the meeting.) Chairman then introduced Mr. Peyton Schur, State Director of Offender Aid and Restoration Program (OAR). Mr. Schur stated that the program is a national program of volunteers that go into county and local jails and work on a "one-to-one" basis with prisoners. Mr. Schur state that the OAR Program is coming into Pennsylvania and that they have chosen Washington County as the location for the pilot program for the State. He stated that this program is supported by the Governor and several politicians in the State. He stated that the reason why Washington was chosen over the other counties in Western Pennsylvania was because Washington County is one of the few counties in Western Pennsylvania that has no volunteer program actually working on a "one-to-one" basis in the jail. Mr. Schur stated that many of the jails in Western Pennsylvania if not already established, are in the pro- cess of establishing such a program. The second reason Washington County was chosen was the overwhelming interest that the citizens and businessmen and government leaders in the County have shown him when he made his presentation when they first decided to come into Washington County. Mr. Schur stated that this wasn't a decision that was SALARY MINUTE B O O K `'4 7 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS 1 J very quickly; in fact, he has been working over a year and a half just beginning the pro- cess for Pennsylvania and three months ago the decision was made to come into Washing- ton County and this is when he first started talking to everyone. Mr. Schur stated that within three weeks he had well over a hundred people volunteer to be members of the Advisory Board. He stated that they have chosen twenty; Reverend Van Riper is the President; Pie Johns is the Treasurer. Mr. Schur stated, that they have chosen a very diversified board which he will go into shortly because it is one of the reasons why the program has been successful. Mr. Schur then distributed pamphlets regarding the idea behind the program and the statements made by various wardens, prisoners, mayors, etc. describing what they feel about the program. Mr. Schur stated that Deputy Warden Johns passed out an excerpt of a report by MetaMetrics Research, Inc., which is, an organizatio that evaluates prison programs on all levels. Mr. Schur stated that MetaMetrics Resear Inc., are hired by LEAA to do an evaluation of the OAR Program which started approxi- mately six years ago. He stated that if any member of 'the Board would like to lccnkk at the complete report, it is available. Mr. Schur stated that the OAR -Program has been the single most successful volunteer program that has ever been instituted in the correct field since conception. Mr. Schur stated that the first program was in Fairfax County, Virginia. At the time that the director went in there, he had a problem because the recidivism rate in Fairfax County was 73%. He stated that after three years that rate dropped to 9.5%, which was a remarkable reduction and by far the best that OAR has experienced. (Mr. Schur then elaborated further on the start of the program in Fairfax County. ) Remarks: Judge Sweet: Are you planning to use a former offender during the program? Mr. Schur: No. I'm not planning on it; that's not to say that it might not happen. I'm not planning on it; I'm not planning on not having it. First of all, there is an Advisory Board which I'll have to tell you about. It's comprised of a real cross-section of the community. One thing I would like to talk about, if possible. ..we have everyone on there We have Judge Simmons as an advisor to the Board, but he wasn't quite sure whether it would be a conflict of interest to serve on the Advisory Board of this or not. OAR is very stringent as far as wanting to get involved with the Prison Boards of the counties they work in and we would like to have a representative of the Prison Board sit on the Advisory Board of the Program. So it's not a program that's all being decided by a church organization or by what a lot of correctional officials call a bunch of bleeding hearts. And this is one thing that OAR wants to get away from. The director... at the moment it looks like I twill serve as temporary director of the program until a permanent director is hired for Washington County. The hiring of that director is done by the .Advisory Board of the community and as I said it is a very big cross-section. There are some ex -offenders on the Advisory Board; there are also law enforcement officials, the Warden, Chief Belhy is on the Board and so forth. It's a real cross-section. It's not all one type of people on the Advisory Board. So it's not all one-sided. It's not all one type of people on the Advisory Board. The reason that the program is unique is... that's one of the reasons right there. The next reason is that it doesn't take vol- unteers and throw them into a jail and say go talk to this guy and help him out. Because they realize that most people in the community don't know the first thing about the whole correctional system to Ilegin with, and that goes all the way from the judicial system to when they get to the jail itself. So there is an extensive training program that the vol- unteers go through before they are even allowed to receive credentials and be sworn in in a courtroom ceremony as volunteers of the program. The training is done by the ,468 SALARY,-MINUTE,B❑❑K BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON, COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN. JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS director and by professionals from the community. Hopefully a judge will come in and explain his side of the system; the Warden comes in and explains about contraband and everything else that has to do with the running of the jail. A law enforcement official will tell his side of the story. Maybe a psychologist will come in and explain how to talk with people. And by the time the volunteer is finished with this training program, he is very well versed on the- whole system - how it runs, what to do and what not to do, and what's going to rub people the wrong way as far as on the administration side of the system and also what's going to rub the prisoners the wrong way. What not to do with a prisoner - give him money or give him cigarettes or get into anything like that. He is very well versed on what -to do and this helps a lot because the relationship has a much better chance of not breaking down if he understands what's going on. And this is why a lot of these volunteer programs do not work because people go in there with big hearts to help somebody out but they don't know what to do and their feelings get hurt because they think the prisoner is taking advantage and what happens - you get not only the prison more hurt if the volunteer quits on them but you also have a volunteer with a bad idea' of who's in jail and he's thinking go ahead and throw away the key. So, this is pretty much the program, gentlemen. I will say that OAR has excellent funding and they have close to $2 million in the National Board; we have five states - it's by far the most solvent not pro=fit organization ever, and I'm very excited about 'having this program come to Wash- ington County. I know that the decision on whether this program is going to go or not is finally up to you, but we have the full cooperation of the Warden, and the Deputy Warden, and I'm fully expecting, unless there are any great problems in as far as you can see having this, to gain acceptance of this today. Mr. Mascara questioned the grants available. Mr. Schur: Well, we got a call yesterday; in fact the gentleman from the Governor's Justice Commission will be here at 12:00 Noon to discuss getting $30, 000 to start Wash- ington County off. I'll fill out the application for that... We have a $5, 000 grant from the Hearst Foundation _to start Washington County off, and United States Steel is in the makin€ M a $40, 000 grant for this. Washington County will be the first program, but many othez Western Pennsylvania counties are soon to follow because I've had many other requests. Judge Sweet: You've said that you've got some former offenders on the Advisory Board. Is there any way, without reading the names out loud, is there any way that the members of the Prison Board can see who these people are? Mr. Schur: Without reading the names out? Is there a reason why you wouldn't want them because... Judge Sweet: Suppose somebody committed an offense 20 years ago, and is now a respected member of the community and nobody knows that he is a former burglar, I wouldn't want to put him on the spot by having his name read out. Mr. Schur: The gentlemen that are ex -offenders, I believe have no qualms about... the one gentleman is a student of Reverend Van Riper's over at the Lighthouse, he has a school over there, and he is a student there... he was an ex -drug addict. The other two offenders are black gentlemen. I would like to read the names. I'll read the names of all of the board members. The one is Darwin Barnes who served time in Massachusetts and he ran a halfway house in Massachusetts for quite a while before he came back here to be a supervisor at RCA. Both of these black gentlemen, by the way, Pie knows and he felt that they would be good people to have on the board. The other one, I believe both served time in Washington County Jail, this other one is Herman Johnson, who served time in Western Penitentiary, and to me, I don't know them that well, but they seem like very interested members of the community. They seem to have themselves straightened out; I'm not sure, but I've asked people who should know in corrections and law enforcement about them and they seem to have themselves back on the right road and want to get involved in something that's going to help the community. And I've found in my experiences that this is the kind of thing that really does rehabilitate people --getting involved in this sort of thing. Some of the best directors that OAR has happen to be ex -offenders. So, I don't know if you gentlemen are familiar... Judge Gladden: You said that you had a „grant from United States Steel and I was wonderit if United States Steel is going to help find employment for these people. Or if you have any commitments from local industry or local businessmen that might give us some hope of these fellows finding employment. Mr. Schur: The main format of OAR is the "one-to-one" relationship and having the volunteer follow the prisoner into re-entry into the community. However, many other things have developed from OAR, as many as you can think of, that have ever started, like halfway houses, drug' programs and job placement. Job placement is probably the biggest one.. getting the guy a job when he comes out. We have many people from the �r 1 1 SALARY MINUTE BOOK ,leg BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN. JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS i the community... I've talked with the Chamber of Commerce and havL6 their full cooperation I talked with them at a meeting at the Brown Derby a couple of weeks ago. Let me read the names to you. We have Richard Mull, from the Public Defender's Office, Joan Griffin who was just elected to the Washington School Board, David Sciamanna, assistant to Mr. Johns, Mayor -Elect, James Roupe, Tom Belhy, Richard Mull, Jr., who is Richard Mull's son, he is the Executive Director of the LeMoyne House, Reverend Van Riper, Thomas Arthur, his student, Hanna Johns, James Sayer, who is the captain of the Sal- vation Army, Bill and Evelyn Ruschel, the photographer on Chestnut Street, Kate Podvia, who is the assistant to Beaver Perkins of the Volunteers -In -Probation Program, which happens to be the only other volunteer program in Washington County, working with juve- niles, Father Tom Kenna, over at Immaculate Conception, John Pankopf, Ford Dealer, and that's about it. Also Frank Conte, the attorney, and he is acting as the attorney for the organization also. Is there any... Mr. Mascara: Speak a little more about the funding. Is it going to be a self -sustained thing this year. Next year... Mr. Schur: We'll find out more about that as far as the Governor's Justice Commission is concerned... (Ron Corsi from the Governor's Justice Commission entered the meeting.) Mr. Paluso: Our experience with the Governor's Justice Commission... they fund things fo: one year and then at a reduced rate the following year and a reduced rate the third year.. the County has to pick up the tab all of the time. I personally would object completely to the County having to fund any part of this. Mr. Schur: May I first say that the least reduction in recidivism in any program that OAR has been involved in, in any county, has been 46%. The budget for Washington Count, Jail or the amount of money spent last year was almost $304, 000. The least amount that OAR could reduce the expenditure in the jail, and any jail, has been 21%. 'So this progran is going to reduce the cost of operating your county jail by a certain amount. And if it does so, I could not see why there would be any objection to the County picking up the pars that it has saved the County. I will first of all tell you, that I don't think it's going to be necessary for the County to pick up anything if they don't want to, but I would think that it would be the obligation of the County Commissioners to help the program, but the pro- gram will go on with or without the help •of the County. Mr. Corsi: I'm with the Governor's Justice Commission and you're speaking about the match ratio. This application will be written on a pass -through concept. In other words, this agency is a non-profit organization; therefore, they cannot apply directly to the GJC. Therefore, they are a contractor. The sub -grantee is Washington County because you are a local unit of government. Therefore funds will be passed through the County to`the contractor; however, the match requirements are obligated by the non-profit organization. And they have the obligation within 30 days if you don't like the program to back out. It's not as if they are applying as a County agency, they are going to perform a service via a formulized pass -through contract. So it is seed money also that you are talking about. We will fund up to 90% if funds are available. I think possibly the first year we might have enough to cover that. Second year obviously 75-25, 50-50, and 25-75. But they are in fact obligated to go out and meet the match requirements as opposed to, if this were to come directly, say to a district attorney's office or something. It's a different concept. (Kate Podvia of Volunteers -In -Probation entered the meeting.) Mr. Schur: The funding of the program, as to your question is not only done through LEAA and the Governor's Justice Commission, in fact, I believe it is 79% of the money coming to the OAR Program comes from private foundations. I have a list in my possessi now of 74 foundations that have expressed interest in Western Pennsylvania in OAR. And I just really don't think money is going to be a heck of a hard problem for Washington County. I'm looking at a much greater scale... I'm looking ,to open a program in every county in Pennsylvania. And I wouldn't be looking at that if I thought,that one county was going to have any problem with any money. Richard Mull, Jr.. and Joan Griffin entered the meeting.) r. Schur: Money and volunteers have , never boen a problem to OAR; in fact, I don't now that OAR has ever had any major problems ever, and that's why they have this and that's why they have the support of politicians in your state. I can go on and on about he people that are that not many of us involved... Hubert Humphrey is on the National Board, may be someone would elect to be President. ,•, I don't know what your political views are... but there are people in politics that are interested in the program and not many programs have this. They have to earn it. In five years, I feel that this program has )n 470 SAcLARY ,M I N UTE Boo K BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYI-VANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN.f ..BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS I , I earned it and that's why I've become involved in it. Mr.Mascara: The grants by the private sector -are they channeled into the Governor's Justice Commission fund or are they channeled into the County to off -set the matching requirements? You spoke of U. S. Steel... Mr. Schur: The matching requirement will, first of all, matching requirements for this particular grant that we're talking about for the first year for Washington County will be matched by the Hearst Foundation. It's not going to be matched... is it a requirement, the County match? Mr. Corsi: We expect the non-profit organization to match. The County is a local unit of government; therefore, by law, we must pass through a local unit. Next year, we can go directly through a non-profit organization, but laws don't permit it to happen this year. Mr. Paluso: If this is an all volunteer program, what do you need money for? Mr. Schur: Well, you've got a salaried director, probably an office manager, .a secret travelling expenses, possibly a car, office furniture, equipment, maybe an emergency fund for prisoners coming out of jail without any money. Mr. Paluso: What you're telling me is that bureaucracy grows. Mr. Schur: Sure. This...OAR's success is mainly attributed to it's businesslike attitude which very few small organizations have. OAR is a business; it's run as a business. Unfortunately... no... idealistically everybody likes to sw that this could be run on love alone and it's not going to work that way. This is the reason it's around today. Mr. Flynn: If I may, Mr. Schur, I would assume that what you need from this Board is either the acceptance or rejection of your plan, right sir? Mr. Schur: Exactly. Mr. Flynn: And assuming that this Prison Board would accept it, then it would be up to the County Commissioners to submit a grant application to the Governor's Justice Commission for this money. All you want this Board to do here is to either accept your proposal or reject it, or authorize that you institute your program in the County Jail. Mr. Schur: Plus, I would like the Prison Board also to give us a representative to ser on our Advisory Board if possible. So that the Prison Board has a say as to what goes on in the Program. I think it's important that they whole County be represented and I think that a member of this Prism. Board should serve on the Advisory Board. Judge Sweet: Mr. Chairman, the representative from the Justice Commission said some- thing about 30 days that we have to b ack out. Mr. Corsi: If the program is implemented and you find fault in it, you can by written request back out within 30 days. Judge Sweet: But if we do not... we won't know in 30 days whether... Mr. Corsi: Thirty days anytime within the program. Thirty days notice. Judge Sweet: In other words if this turns out badly, we're not locked into it.4 for a three year period. Mr. Corsi: All the County is actually doing is sponsoring this agency by virtue of... Washington County is a local unit of government, and by law we must pass through the money. They are going to meet the match requirements. That is all they're asking. Just for a sponsorship. Mr. Paluso: Then I also understood you to say that next year the non-profit organization will be able to make it's own application. Mr. Corsi: We are in the process of next year, to do that with a certain percentage of our funds... it has always been that a non-profit organization must go through a local unit of government. Mr. Paluso: We're applying for one year as the County in the name of OAR and they will henceforth apply themselves. So we're actually making a one-year application. C SALARY MINUTE BOOK 411 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS LJ 1 r Mr. Corsi: All of them are for one year so .you don't tie up funds. On merit they will come in for possibly a second year fund. Again, they can present the, program and the results. In this case, I'm not here advocating, I want to rack myself out of that, but it's just a question that we want to see what is happening with the program also. I'm here just as a practitioner just `to find out what the nuts and bolts of the application and the requests are. And the Governor's Justice Commission's interests and Washington County's also. Mr. Flynn: Once the County makes application - we enter into an agreement with the Justice Commission - let's assume that the total amount of money involved is $40, 000. What do we do then? Do we enter into... we sub -contract' then to the OAR? Mr. Corsi: Yes. They're going to provide a service to the County, the same as you would... Mr. Flynn: And how does.. how do you handle the funds? Mr. Corsi: The funds will be submitted... the drawn checks will go directly to the County. The contractor must submit an invoice bi-weekly or monthly, to the County documenting time and effort and a schedule of payment. Mr. Paluso: Similar to the Burgettstown thing. Mr. Corsi: That's exactly right. Mr. Paluso: If they raise their matching funds, where does that go? Physically, is that money deposited along with the money from the Justice Commission in the County bank account and they submit a requisition for... In other words, the money they raise, is that turned over to the County to be put in the same bank account? Mr. Corsi: This is something that you must spell out. You can present this to your solicitor and he can spell out exactly how you want the cash to flow. If you want their match and they agree upon it to go through the County within a one year's time period they must meet the 5% which will be the first year. And so if you want it to pass through the County or at least receipts, you can spell it out in a contract and have that occur. It's not really a major problem. Mr. Paluso: Well, not to you. But it is to the because they' have a year to raise the match... if in February they don't raise the match until the following August? Where doe; the money come from to sustain the Program? Do we loan them the money? Mr. Corsi: We are under the assumption at this point that they can in fact raise their match. We will perform an interim and exit audit to show that they did... if not we can surcharge... Mr. Schur: I will get a list to each of you members of allthe foundations that have contributed money. I must stress that I'm expecting you to take my *,ord that I wouldn't come in here and tell you that we got two million dollars if we didn't. But if you need written proof, I can certainly provide it for you. You're talking about a program that is the most solvent program in the country. And it's only in five states. And I just don't expect any financial problem...I understand your concern, but I don't feel personally, because I know about this with OAR. Mr. Paluso: I just don't want to get in a position as a Court y Commissioner to come up with , the money for this program. Mr. Schur: All I was, saying before is that it seems to me that if this program reduces the cost of your jail that most -counties that OAR has reduced their cost, have taken the money that they've reduced and given it to the Program to help sustain, and... Mr. Paluso: I hope you're right, but I'm very skeptical. I don't think it's going to reduce our union contract, wages, or anything. (Further discussion was held.) Judge Sweet: My reservation concerns the prominence of ex -offenders in the program - the possibility that your successor will be one. The existence of those people on the Board. I go to a variety of meetings at the State level and the Shapp administration has given ex -offenders considerable prominence. They hired a newspaper "porter from Erie who murdered her paramour for instance, and she got a $12, 000 job as a public relations guide in the Governor's Office. In every State conference there are always several of them there and they constantly seem to be/working force for chipping away at the founda- tions of the legal and correctional system. We have a hard time with them in some of these conferences. I was a parole release judge on one of the people you mentioned and ,472 SALARY MINUTE. BOOK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R..FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS he had obtained a position up in Massachusetts as a probation officer, so I thought, okay, I would get him up to Massachusetts and put him to work so I signed to let him go. But I'm very concerned about our adopting that part of the philosophy of this that gives discretionary prominence to ex -offenders. I suppose I want to feel fairly sure that we would not get an armed robbery or burglary or arson defendant as our Executive Directo after you move on. of Mr. Schur: Well, this is one of the reasons that I'd like to have one/you gentlemen, or two Of you gentlemen, as members of this Advisory Board. My personal feeling as far as ex -offenders are... they must pay for their crimes and go through the system the way it is set up and once they've served that time and they want to get involved in some- thing like this and they've got what the Advisory Board feels... is just what you're afraid of... is that they don't want people coming into a program, ex -offenders, NAACP, church groups, any one particular group coming in and making decisions for County programs. However, OAR feels that it is very important that all sides be shown on this Advisory Board and I think. ..I would not allow this program to start in Washington County unless, not necessarily that there would have to be ex -offenders on the Advisory Board, but that they were weeded out and said you cannot serve on the Advisory Board ---OAR would not start in this County. Mr. Mascara: Conversely, Judge, my position would be that the program would be an exercise in futility if we didn't have people on the Board who could relate to the problem of the individuals who are incarcerated. Not if you put a group of people who have never served any time in jail, then you're really not going to... Mr. Schur: This is the main thing that the ex -offenders.... And I understand Judge Sweet s concern as far as having a murderer or burglar or whatever coming and and making decisions for something that is going to affect the County. But then Again, I feel that you cannot look upon the ex -offender as someone who can never make a contribution to society. Judge Sweet: I see a situation where we get applications for parole... you understand the system, on the short sentence, the sentencing judge is the parole board, and we send a fellow there for III- Z to 232 months. After a while, his lawyer wants to get him out. I think they all bug their lawyers constantly to get them out. And it would be logical for the lawyer to produce the OAR volunteer to testify that this man has now changed, that he's seen the light, that he's going to be okay. Now, in', the state furlow program, it worked out that the social workers in the jail and the counselors in the state institutions become advocates for the prisoner to help get him ,out. They no longer represent the correctional system to t he prisoner, they turn around and represent the prisoner to us. And I have heard at a state conference a psychiatrist explain what the mechanism in the man's mind is so that it seems probable to me that your volunteers will in time become advocates, perhaps not for general release, but, they're going to be advocates for the release cif their given prisoner, and we're going to be faced with that constantly. I think it's ,,going to be... someday give us concern particularly if the vol- unteer is an ex -offender. Mr. Schur: That is a good point Judge. Let me say this, again, the Advisory Board is going to have the final, decision on this. It is my personal opinion that OAR be used by your system here in.the County as the County's discretion as far as what you were just talking about. In other words, I am going to make a suggestion to the Advisory Board that OAR's... and that OAR's volunteers be used only at the request of the. Judge. In other words, with the permission of the Judge in his court room because a full -fledged — in other words, we want the OAR volunteer to bring out the problems, but again, the OAR volunteer cannot go to you people, he cannot go to the Warden, he can_ only go to the Director, and the Director in turn goes to the Advisory Board and the Advisory Board thereupon selects a committee to present any problems to any Judge, any Com- missioner, or so forth that they see fit. But there's a level of command that these things have to go through and you're not going to have an OAR volunteer coming into a Prison Board meeting, you're not going to have an OAR volunteer coming into the, court room unless it goes through a certain process, and this particular process is one that I -would suggest, is the Advisory Board. Again, it is going to be their decision whether to do it or not, and this is another reason why I feel it is important for one or two of you gentlemen to serve on the Advisory Board. Judge Sweet: I want this commitment or this declaration of intention to be a part of the record, please, because, I may be swimming against the tide here, but I think that we would be creating a small monster for ourselves on probation and parole hearings if we build the constant advocacy for early release. And that is one of the things that I see coming on this. Mr. Schur: I would like to add another thing of intent to this also. It is the intent of OAR to become rso successful ,and so well -liked by you gentlemen, that Judges and lawyer 1 1 SALARY MINUTE BOOK .473 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. SEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS L_ C 1 and everybody else in the whole County is going to hope that the OAR volunteer can be such a respected member of the community, that he's going to be wanted to... his ideas about what the prisoner is going through is... We hope that this can happen, but we do not expect it to happen until OAR establishes a reputation that can be counted on. Because it has happened in the past that an OAR volunteer has gone to court and has told judges that their particular client is not ready for probation approved release or anything else. Sheriff: Any other questions? Mr. Schur: I will, may I add one more thing. I think many of you fellows are familiar with Jim Howard who is the Warden at Western Penitentiary. Jim was in Virginia when OAR Program started as the head of the correctional system down there before he came to Western Penitentiary. And if you'd like to talk to anybody about OAR as far as what it has done for a correctional system on a state-wide basis, Jim Howard would be the person to get in touch with. Mr. Corsi: May I add something. I keep hearing OAR and I think somewhere something is missing in this conversation. You're talking about a non-profit organization; you're talking about Washington County; you're talking about a national organization, and yet you're requesting funds from the Governor's Justice Commission. Therefore, I must have to add that the existence is based upon, not OAR, but because of us. Therefore, you're coming to us for funds, therefore you keep saying the national organization. I'm not exactly buying that. Mr. Paluso: I have one other thing. A comment to make. I notice the names that you read off of the Advisory Board, the ones I recognize, in fact I think all of them, were from this community. I think that the Prison Board should make some recommendations of people to be on that Advisory Board since the program, and this is Washington County, not the City of Washington, that we're talking about. Mr. Schur: This has been brought to my attention in the past, and the reason it happened this way was mainly because most of the people that are, I felt are good to have on the Board, happen to live... if they' -re important in Washington County, they happen to live pretty close to the City of Washington. Mr. Paluso: I feel I'm pretty important and I don't live here. Sheriff: I think what Mr. Paluso is trying to bring out is the fact that you've presented yourself here today and you have given us the program - that you organized your board prior to coming in, whether we give approval or disapproval, and actually we have nothing as far as the individual that you have on the Board at the present time. My question would be, what is the total amount that you cyan have on the Board. And I think what Mr. Paluso is trying to bring out... he comes from the lower end of the County, and certainly we have situations that exist throughout the entire County. Now, I can understand your position that locally people are available to come to the meetings within a short distance. Now my question is how large of a body would make up this Board eventually. Or is it shut off at the present time? Mr. Schur: Well the prototype for the by-laws for the programs that have opened in the past said between 16 and 21. At the moment, we have 19 with one ex-officio, which wou be me, and whoever the permanent director is in the future. It could be raised abcve. 21 as the Advisory Board sees fit. As the by-laws read now, it's 21. I should stress that the... and when this point was brought up to me before, the most important part of this program is the volunteers themselves. The Advisory Board makes the decision of the governing body, but the volunteers themselves are the ones that are really going to make the program go. And the volunteers are going to come from all over the County, not just Washington. But I felt in the best interests of the program to get as many people as I could that are interested in the County within certain local areas, and the...I just had so many from Washington, I think 127 just from the Washington area, 'that wanted to serve on this Board for OAR and I don't know the County that well. I was lucky to start finding people here. I just didn't know where to go, to be honest with you. J Mr. Paluso: The City is only one -tenth of the County. Judge DiSalle: I don't want to prolong this, but could you tell us in a couple of minutes what these volunteers are going to be expected to do. I'm on the Board of the Volunteers - In -Probation, working with juveniles...I have a pretty good idea of what they do, but you talked about extensive training programs for these people, and you say that they are important. I think that they are the most important thing. I could see where a volunteer who isn't trained properly could really hurt a prisoner. (Mr. Schur then read some of the guidelines as outlined in the OAR Volunteers Book.) tit 5 A U.A'R.Y M I .N UT E `. B.o Gl I BOA'R0'.OF,COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON, COUN.TY,`PENNSYLVANIA MICHA£L R. FLYNN, JOHN PS BEVEC,.JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS Judge DiSalle: Suppose I'm a volunteer, what do you tell me to do on my first day in the jail? Are they expected to say, spend an hour a week with that prisoner in the jail? Mr. Schur: Approximately, yes. An hour or two a week. Judge DiSalle: Is there any kind of contact with this family? Judge Gladden: Do they get in touch with a prospective employer... is he supposed to help him get money for restitution? Mr. Schur: The main thing is that he works on a "one-to-one" basis... on the prisoners needs and problems and then go to OAR Director... Mr. Paluso: Has there ever been a case where the OAR - say loaning the money to a prisoner to make restitution or anything like that? Mr. Schur: Not for restitution, no. The only program OAR sets up as far as a loan goes is for prisoners that have no money when they come out. And it is a loan, it, is not a gift. They loan them the money. Mr. Paluso: What is your experience in collecting? Mr. Schur: It's been fairly good. Of course, it's probably been no better than Sears or Penney's or any other. But it hasn't been... Judge Sweet: Do we have to vote on this today or do we get an opportunity to think and check on it? Or do you want us to make a decision now? Sheriff: I think we ought to vote on this today. I can see no reason...I think we all understand the presentation that was made here. I think we have two points that we: , . have to take. First of all, we have to either disapprbm or approve the request, and secondly, we must authorize the County Commissioners to work with the Governor's Justice Commission. Mr. Corsi: You can construe this program as a pilot project. You... the match will be obligated by the non-profit organization, we will pick up along with the State, the excess, You will, again have an opportunity to review it for a year's time; it will come up again one year from the starting date and if you don't like it at that time... any where within the grant, you have 30 days in which to back out if you don't like it. Sheriff: After all, there are seven members here, and the Chair will entertain a motio to vote. Moved by Mr. Mascara, seconded by Mr. Flynn, that the Prison Board adopt the Offender Air and Restoration Program at the Washington County Prison pending approval by the sub -grantee, the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County. Roll call vote taken: Mr. Paluso.- Yes; Judge Gladden - Yes; Mr. Flynn - Yes; Judge DiSalle - Yes; Mr. Mascara - Yes; Judge Sweet - Abstain; Sheriff Debreczeni - Yes. Motion carried. (Judge Sweet abstained from voting because he was not satisfied on the role of former offenders as a possible director. Otherwise, Judge Sweet stated that the Program was okay.) Prison Bills for the Month of October, 1975: Prison Bills for the month of October, 1975, in the amount of $7, 176. 13 (Prison Days - 2913). Income from units for the use of the County Prison: United States Marshal $2, 793. 83 Westmoreland County 4,263.75 Prisoners Board 348.40 TOTAL $7, 405. 98 C� SALARY MINUTE B o ©K 4�5 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN, JOHN P. BEVEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS 1 Restitution made by U. S. Marshal: James Marzullo $18.65 Mark Houmis 7.00 Frank King 1.85 Ron Buchert 42.00 TOTAL $69.50 Restitution made by Westmoreland County: Chris Graves $77.20 Charles Price 20.00 Galeon Cook 15.15 TOTAL $112.35 Moved by Judge Gladden, seconded by, -Judge Sweet, that the bills for the month of October be paid. Motion carried by unanimous vote cast by the Board signifying their approval', verbally by stating "Aye.;" Remarks: Mr. Paluso: I've been looking through the minutes yesterday and I noticed you have several places in the minutes where you have restitution made by U.S. Marshal, restitutioi made by Westmoreland County, . and the names of various individuals and what the amount of money paid to the County Jail was. But I haven't been able to find any record of the most prominent inmate we've had recently that I saw on the front page of the paper as being released - Mr. Grosso. Who reimbursed this County for this vacation down there? I haven't been able to find it. Deputy Warden Johns: The United States Marshal - he's been here under an assumed name - John Davis. Mr. Paluso: I'm curious to see what they paid for his vacation. Sheriff: The same as any other federal prisoner. Mr. Paluso: I would request a breakdown —all that's listed here is U.S. Marshal. They are itemized for other prisoners - Nellie Puleo, Michael Butler... But I've never been able to find anything on this other person. Sheriff: Mr. Paluso, when you see these names... these figures that you see here must be something in addition. And I think we'll look into it. Deputy Warden Johns: These are medical expenses. Sheriff: That we pay for their medical... where County money is paid to take them up to the hospital for an x-ray. Mr. Paluso: I'm looking at the minutes of October 15, 1975, meeting. Restitution made by U.S. Marshal - four names; 'restitution made by Westmoreland County - three names; restitution made by Allegheny County - one name. Mr. Mascara: It's reimbursement for the use of our facilities. Mr. Paluso: The question I'm asking is what was reimbursed... Sheriff: This is additional services that we have granted to each one of these prisoners that were placed here by the United States Marshal. Judge Sweet: We want to be sure that we got the money for Grosso - that we didn't lose out... Sheriff: Mr. Grosso has never been to the hospital; he's never been under our custody. (Further discussion was held.) Mr. Paluso: I want to know how many days he was here and how much reimbursement was made. Mr. Mascara stated that he will check into the matter. BALA°RY!M IN U"TE.• B[10K BOARD 0-F, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WASFHINGTON- COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MICHAEL R. FLYNN. JOHN P BEKEC, JOHN MAZZA, COMMISSIONERS Sheriff: Mr. Schur has asked a question and before we adjourn this meeting I think it's in order - he asked would it be possible at this meeting to designate - he requested two, I insisted on three, members to serve on the OAR Advisory Board. The reason I said three - we have a committee made up --to represent the different branches of government judicial, law enforcement, and the administration. I thought maybe we could hit it on the head that way. Do I hear any names that we may... Judge DiSalle: Well, we have Judge Simmons representing the court, but I will nominate Judge Sweet to make sure no ex -offenders... Mr. Schur: Judge Simmons has told us that he will not serve on the Advisory Board because he thought it might be a conflict of interest... Judge Sweet: All applications for parole apparently that they're going to support have to go to the Advisory Board. I don't think one of us should sit at the Board level and dis- cuss whether he should come up for parole and then sit on the parole - the sentencing judge has to do that. Judge Simmons was wise in apprehending a possible... Sheriff: In other words, your statement now is withdrawing the position of all judges? Judge Sweet: No. Judge Simmons does not sit in criminal cases. He'd be the best off of any of us on that. The other four of us all have our share of prisoners in the County Jail. Discussion was held.) Mr. Mascara: Isn't it true that on matters relating to an individuals involvement directly to Judge Simmons, that he can refrain from engaging in any dialogue and also abstain in voting... Mr. Schur: He could abstain on the... although he can become a volunteer of the program If he does not become a volunteer he has no contact with the actual offenders involved at any rate. His job on the Advisory Board is to vote on issues as they come up... He has no say in what happens with the prisoner... Mr. Corsi: This application must still be presented to the Southwest Regional Planning Council... We don't really have final approval of the application. Sheriff: Since this be the case, can we defer our position of appointing our members until a later date? Mr. Schur: I would say no to that because whether or not we get the Governor's Justice Commission funding or not, the program is going to start. (Further discussion was held.) Sheriff: Do I have volunteers who would like to be a part of this Board or are we satisfied with Judge Simmons? Mr. Paluso: Maybe we need a skeptic on the Board.- I Sheriff: Mr. Paluso and Mr. Mascara. And Judge Simmons. Meeting adjourned. THE FOREGOING MINUTES READ AND APPROVED; November 26 1975 ATTEST ALde�� S ARY sh PJ