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Published: November 01, 2005 11:46 pm
County to study jail renovations
By KIRK SWAUGER
TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT SOMERSET BUREAU
Somerset —
Somerset County officials will retain an architect to study significant renovations to the troubled jail and are considering overhauling the lockup’s management structure by hiring around-the-clock lieutenants.
Warden Tim Mapes proposed the changes Tuesday based on recommendations from state inspectors and an independent report from the superintendent at the nearby State Correctional Institution at Laurel Highlands.
Mapes is calling for construction of a women’s cell block in the lower level of what is now the work-release center beside the jail. The move would create more space in the prison for classification of new inmates.
For the past four or five years, state inspections repeatedly have cited the county for failing to classify new inmates and not segregating troublesome prisoners.
Lack of classification contributed to a widespread abuse scandal at the jail, in which gangs of hardened inmates supposedly beat new prisoners with rubber shower shoes as part of an initiation ritual.
Under the proposal outlined Tuesday, work-release prisoners would be moved to the upper level of the center in space currently used for Legal Aid and storage.
“If we were to move females into the other building, it would give us more room for classification,” Mapes said following a county prison board meeting at the jail.
Whether the county could afford the renovations remains uncertain, County Commissioner Brad Cober said.
The county would rely on an estimate provided by the yet-unselected architect.
“I don’t know if it’s even feasible,” Cober said.
State officials are scheduled to conduct a follow-up inspection at the jail today, when Mapes said he will present the inspectors with a new classification policy.
In the state’s latest inspection of the jail, the lockup received a 76 percent compliance rate for 25 national standards, compared with a 52 percent rate in 2004.
Officials said they expect the rate to improve.
Further improvements have been made at the jail since the last inspection, including new equipment for the weight room and a new roof surface that was being installed Tuesday.
As of Tuesday, the jail housed 109 inmates, including 10 women, Mapes said. The average daily population last month was 102.
Cober said security would have to be considered in moving female prisoners to the less-secure work-release center.
“We have to figure out if we can make that as secure as (the jail) is,” he said.
The prison board went into a 10-minute executive session to discuss the proposed change in management structure at the jail.
In his review of policies and procedures, Fred Rosemeyer – superintendent of SCI-Laurel Highlands in Somerset Township – suggested hiring shift supervisors to back up Mapes and the deputy warden.
Former Deputy Warden Mike Shaulis resigned about a month ago to become a state prison guard. The commissioners have yet to fill that position.
Cober said the county will negotiate the proposed changes with Independent Corrections Officers of Pennsylvania, the union representing guards at the jail. The lieutenants would be considered management positions, replacing unionized shift supervisors.
Borough police have said they expect to conclude an investigation into the abuse scandal by year end.
Seven former inmates suspected of being ringleaders in the assaults are awaiting trial in county court. Dozens of other reported beatings are being investigated.
Kirk Swauger can be reached at 445-5103 or kswauger@tribdem.com.
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