Lackawanna County Prison Board 5-15-24

The Lackawanna County Prison Board meeting on May 15, 2024, focused on reviewing and approving financial reports including payables for the community correction center and prison, as well as inmate and canteen account reconciliations. The warden provided updates on inmate population, staffing vacancies, and incidents within the facility. Discussions included the status of medical services contracts managed by the county, mental health staffing, and efforts to improve crisis response and reduce the use of emergency restraint chairs. Public comments addressed concerns about medication supply upon inmate release, food service quality, and the need for a full-time chaplain. The board also considered requests for outdoor benches and expanded recreational options, as well as programs like AA meetings and access to educational materials via tablets. Staffing challenges and mandatory overtime were discussed with hopes for improvement by summer. Overall, the meeting emphasized operational, health, and welfare aspects of prison management with attention to contracting and budgetary oversight.