Fayette prison economic study to be presented to officials, public
The findings of a prison economic needs assessment will be revealed today to the Fayette County Prison Board and the public as officials edge closer to making a final decision as to whether the county will construct a new lockup.
The members will get their first look at the study when they meet at 9:15 a.m., and the first of four public meetings will be held at 6 p.m. in Swimmer Hall at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
The prison board meeting is also open to the public. Due to the presentation and the attendance of prison working group members and others, the meeting will be held in Courtroom 1 in the county courthouse.
The prison board is comprised of the three commissioners — Al Ambrosini, Vincent Zapotosky and Angela M. Zimmerlink — along with District Attorney Jack R. Heneks Jr. and Controller Sean Lally. Sheriff Gary Brownfield is the board chairman.
The study was completed by Crabtree Rohrbaugh and Associates of Mechanicsburg and Sleighter Engineering Inc. of Uniontown at a cost of $24,000.
Tom Crabtree, co-founder of the firm, said Tuesday that information was garnered from numerous local agencies, along with the state Commission on Crime and Delinquency and Uniform Crime Reporting Act, among others.
“The statistical information comes from several sources that are available through the state,” he said. “However, it is only a small part of everything that was done to compile the information.”
He declined to discuss the specifics of the report, stating that the data along with the process to disseminate the information would be presented at the prison board meeting and subsequent public meetings.
“It would be inappropriate to talk about the report in advance of distributing it to the prison board,” he said.
Jim Killinger, former state trooper and prison working group architectural team leader, saw a draft copy of the study and described the findings as “eye-opening.”
“I believe people will be surprised,” he said. “It is a very detailed report, but it provides the county with the information to make a decision.”
Since November, the prison ad-hoc committee has discussed the deficiencies of the current lockup, structural and programming needs and the inefficient supervisory capabilities within its walls.
Committee members have met with advisors to discuss financing a new jail, and surveyed several properties that could be considered for construction. They have also conferred with the county judicial representatives about how the current system from arrest to incarceration could be streamlined for efficiency and productivity.
“The prison working group gathered a lot of information and spoke with many engineers, architects and financial experts that voluntarily offered their assistance. While I have learned a lot during this process, I am not an expert and only the experts can advise the county as to what decision needs to be made concerning the prison. That is why Crabtree Rohrbaugh and Sleighter were hired,” Killinger said.
“Any decision that will be made (today) or in the coming weeks will be based on the findings in this report,” he continued.
Ambrosini, meanwhile, said that while having the opportunity to help inmates break the cycle of drug or alcohol addiction, learn new skills and how to make better choices with a new prison are all important, it is most vital that the county stop sending hundreds of thousands of dollars to other counties.
“We can’t continue to do this,” he said, adding the county is on track to spend in excess of $1 million in out-of-county rentals this year in addition to exorbitant transportation costs for the transfers. “As a commissioner, I have a responsibility to the taxpayer.”
Ambrosini, too, received an advance look at the preliminary figures and speculates that after a review of the information, the general public will have a better understanding of the need for a new prison.
“To me, the facts make it clear what must be done,” he said.
The Penn State meeting will begin with Crabtree and Sleighter representatives making a presentation of the study findings, followed by a question-and-answer period.
In addition to the architectural and engineering firms, commissioners, prison working group team leaders, judicial representatives and others will be on the panel.
Questions must be submitted in written form to allow for specific answers and to deter any debate, said Ambrosini.
“We have two hours, and I want to answer as many questions as possible,” he said, adding that as commission chairman he will moderate the session.
Three other public meetings will be held, including Saturday at the Mountain Fellowship Center, located on Route 40 in Henry Clay Township; Oct. 3 at the Masonic Lodge, located on Route 982 in Bullskin Township; and Oct. 9 at the American Legion, located on Route 21 in German Township.
All locations are handicap accessible. The meetings will begin at 6 p.m.