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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM - Meeting Minutes - PB 4-14-21 - 4-14-2021 - PRISON BOARDMINUTE 0 PRISON BOARD [MR LIMITED F1316649LD Minute No. PB 4-14-21 WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA April 14, 2021 The meeting of the Washington County Prison Board was held in the 7th floor conference room, Courthouse Square, Washington, Pennsylvania, with the following members being present: Commissioners Diana Irey Vaughan, Nick Sherman and Larry Maggi; Controller Mike Namie; Sheriff Sam Romano; President Judge John DiSalle; and District Attorney Gene Vittone. Also present: Solicitor Jana Grimm; Warden Jeffrey Fewell; Chief of Staff John Haynes; Human Resources Director Shelli Arnold; Chief Clerk Cindy Griffin; Administrative Assistant Joyce Thornburg; Deputy Warden Chris Cain; Chaplin Mike Pierson; Officer Jack Buckholt: President Primecare Medical, Brent Bavington and Lance Thomas of Clearview Asset Protection. Mrs. Vaughan called the meeting to order at approximately 11:30 a.m., and Chaplin Pierson let the meeting with the invocation. Mrs. Vaughan asked if there were any corrections, additions or omissions to Minute No. PB 3-17-21, dated March 17, 2021, and Minute No. PB 3-31-21, dated March 31, 2021, each member having received a copy. It was moved by Mr. Sherman and seconded by Mr. Namie that Minute No. PB 3-17-21 and PB 3-31-21, be approved. The motion was carried unanimously with the Board signifying their approval by stating "Aye". PUBLIC COMMENTS None. WARDEN'S REPORT Income from Other Units for the Maintenance of Inmates for March 2021 Administrative Fee $10,057.28 Social Security -0- Tylenol 50.37 Monthly sub -total $10,107.65 Year-to-date grand total $33,445.87 Program Fees and Room and Board Income for March 2021 Work Release Inmates Weekend Inmates Monthly sub -total Year-to-date grand total Status of Inmates Confined at the End of March 2021 Full-time Inmates Work Release Inmates Weekend Inmates Inmates Awaiting Trial and/or Sentencing Total Inmates Examinations Performed by the Physician New Commitments Repeat Patients Dental Extractions Medical Transports Performed by the Sheriff Contracted Housing Fee/Month Year-to-date grand total Billed Collected -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- Male Female Total 22 2 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 Male Female Total 203 55 258 225 57 282 Male Female Total 33 23 56 20 36 2 18 $0.00 $0.00 Warden Fewell introduced the president of PrimeCare Medical, Brent Bavington. Mr. Bavington stated that new services will be brought in including mental health services while still maintaining the 300 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA IMR LIMITED F111664QLI) level of care for the incarcerated individuals. Mr. Bavington stated that he is always available to help facilitate the healthcare provided in the facility. Mr. Bavington stated that he had met with drug and alcohol and county mental health to facilitate working together as community partners. The mental health numbers and severity have increased largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated that approximately 38 to 40 percent of the population have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Warden Fewell thanked Mr. Bavington for introducing new services and added that there is a lot of work to be done. Warden Fewell introduced Lance Thomas of Clearview Asset Protection, Waynesport, PA. He will be conducting a demonstration of non -lethal gloves purchased by the correctional facility. Mr. Thomas stated that the non -lethal weapon system (gloves) is literally hands on, unlike a Taser, and is going to change many ways in which law enforcement will react. He showed the glove pad where the electrical shock will come from. He explained that it is only designed to only work on skin. Officers wearing a glove can reach for handcuffs, a weapon, or a Taser, for instance, and the current will not be activated. He explained that the more contact that is made with the body, the more compliant the suspect will become. Unlike the Taser, the gloves do not affect the entire muscular system. It only affects the neurological system similar to grabbing a farmer's electrical fence. When the gloves are used in the prison environment and an inmate is out of control, the officer can gain control by touching the inmate. The suspect will not become rigid and fall and will be able to move and let go, so there is no liability risk involving a fall. Additionally, unlike the Taser, the gloves will leave no marks. NYPD just signed on, after conducting several months of testing, and it is expected that lawsuits brought against NYPD from Taser related injuries will be reduced with the use of the glove. The glove is a timed device and controlled by the hand. A pair does not need to be used together to function. There is an SD card which will record the time and date, will not affect pacemakers, and will not shock through hair. Unlike Tasers, the gloves do not need to be reloaded and it controlled by hand. One complete pair of gloves would equates to two weapon systems. The gloves are lightweight and powered by a 3.7 lithium battery, similar to those used in flashlights. Mr. Thomas proceeded with a live demonstration on Mr. Haynes who volunteered to participate. He stated that he would start by placing the gloved hand on the bicep, where there are not many nerves, and slide down. If the suspect does not comply, the hand slides down to the wrist and drops the suspect to their knees. The successful demonstration was an example of a basic level one. Mr. Thomas responded to Mrs. Vaughan's inquiry with regard to the situation where long sleeves are worn by inmates. He stated that a Lexington, Kentucky prison is one that actually use these gloves. They use a yellow glove so that when the inmates see the glove, they are alerted that the correctional officers are armed with that weapon which increases the chance of compliance. If there is a long sleeve shirt on the inmate, the officer will go directly to the hand. If the inmate is on the ground, the grab would take place at the ankle. On a level two situation where the inmate is not compliant, the correctional officer may target the neck or face. However, officers would want to start at the first level to try to get the situation under control. Mr. Thomas, in reply to Mrs. Vaughan's question asking why the suspect drops to his knees, he said that the glove is attacking the nerves, and, therefore, the suspect would not become rigid. Mr. Thomas stated once again that the Taser will continue for several seconds, whereas the glove will stop once it is removed. Mrs. Vaughan asked if there have been any long lasting side effects even with pre-existing conditions from use of the glove. Mr. Thomas stated that the power in this is less than that of an LED Christmas light bulb. He explained that this method has been used in China for the last couple of years, and Clearview Asset Protection has only been working with it for about 18 months up and down the east MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD 301 WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLANIA IMR LIMITED E1316@49Ln coast, and the NYPD has been testing for about 90 days. Mr. Thomas stated that the same two scientists who tested Tasers also tested the gloves and back them. If a situation should go to court, they will testify. Mr. Bavington of PrimeCare Medical stated that he has not witnessed these gloves in action other than from today's demonstration, but from a medical standpoint, there doesn't seem to be an issue. In response to President Judge DiSalle's question, Mr. Thomas stated that the gloves will stay on for the duration. The officer will know it is activated from the light and from his usage training. The SD card will record the duration and how many times it is being used. Each separate occurrence is recorded. He explained further that the tighter the officer squeezes, the more the current will be felt. If the County makes the decision to move forward with this, Mrs. Vaughan suggested that a policy be put into place to review of the information on the SD cards. Mr. Thomas stated that the correctional facility will be given a template, and it will be up to the facility to adapt to the use of force policy. Each facility will have its own policy. Mrs. Vaughan suggested that the SD card will need to be added to the policy. Warden Fewell stated that this is a good tool while in close proximity pointing out that the spray is currently used which contaminates the entire area. In a one-on-one situation, the spray is not a good tool. Warden Fewell stated that the count is 276, and bookings and releasings are slightly down. He went on to report that the average daily population is where we were last year. The 12-hour shift schedule will begin a week from this Sunday which Warden Fewell predicts will assist in retention and cut the attrition rate significantly. I, Warden Fewell, request the Board to hire the following potential correction officers: Aaliyah Branch Saquan Clark John DeGroat Harrison Franks Joseph Hartung Justice Ottey-Jones Tyler Klempay Denise Dupain-Nicholson Zackary Nimal Carrie Reineke Zaiiden Williams I, Warden Fewell, request the following be hired as alternates in the event one of the above declines the job offer: Richard Barry Jacquir Baston Richard Herilla Mariko Marshman Wayne Mathis Philip Milostan Aubrey Rohaley Jacob Staley Warden Fewell stated that the next class will be the first or second week of May, and this class will be graduating in June. By this time, the pilot will be midway, and the staffing should be in a much a better place. I, Warden Fewell, recommend that the following costs be funded to implement policies, procedures, and training for the enforcement of the Prison Rape Elimination Act, 1983 (PREA). He stated that there are 59 standards to be met in accordance with federal regulation and Commonwealth statute. He continued stating that the WCCF needs to develop its policy, implement, publish and train which is already in progress and will not cost any funds. Warden Fewell informed the Board that the PREA implementation team will be meeting tomorrow and that there are over 150 policies that must be reviewed and updated to become PREA compliant. He then brought up the need to establish a policy to farm out juveniles. Warden Fewell stated that we must have a policy, practice and procedure that does not house juveniles in our correctional facility. Currently the Washington County Sheriff's Office transports inmates to and from court, to medical appointments, and to the hospital. There were dozens of occasions last year in which staffing had prevented these necessary transports and captains or correctional officers had to transport inmates in their privately -owned vehicles. Warden Fewell recommended the purchase of a used inmate transport van using Inmate Welfare funds for required inmate transports to and from the hospital or to 302 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY,-PENNSYLANIA IMP I IMITFII F131 Rr-m fl 304 MINUTE BOOK PRISON BOARD WASHINGTON COUNTY, "PENNSYLANIA IMR LIMITED E1316649LD This page is blank.