Vicites appointed to state commission court, jail committee
Fayette County Commission Chairman Vincent Vicites is taking advantage of every available opportunity presented to him as the county pushes forward with revamping its prison facility and its programs.
The most recent opportunity came in the form of an appointment to serve on the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Courts and Corrections Committee.
“I think it is going to be very helpful,” he said of the appointment. “I think the best way to help the county is to get on the committees that will provide some good information as we tackle some of our problems.”
The committee is responsible for the development, consideration and advocacy of all legislative and regulations relating to county jails and judicial issues.
Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi will serve as the committee chairman.
“My primary focus will be to find out what other counties are doing about their jail overcrowding,” said Vicites. “What steps they are taking.”
When the panel met in November it established a list of priorities for the coming year, he added.
Vicites said it was gratifying to learn that, like Fayette County, other counties have conducted assessments to study the types of crimes committed by those in the lockup, the programs available or not available to address recidivism and the likely future needs of the prison system, before determining a long range plan.
The county recently hired CGL Companies to conduct a population analysis at a cost of $50,000.
Vicites had advocated the study after reviewing a prior one that had recommended a 480-bed facility be constructed to meet current and future needs, saying the figure was over inflated.
“It is important to have good figures, accurate numbers specifically broken down into what you need to know so you can plan for the future,” he said. “We have to know about the classification of the crime, and the gender of the person committing the crime.
“We’re right on target with getting that done.”
The study is to be completed within 90 days.
Also key to resolving the prison issue is to expand programs that hone in on the root problem for committing the crime, whether it is tied to drug or alcohol abuse, mental illness or another issue, said Vicites.
“We have several in place,” he said. “We have the day reporting center, we’re expanding intermediate punishment, we have the mental health court and veterans court, which are doing very well.
“The Genesis House is also offering a very good alternative program, and there is talk about a similar program for women.”
Although non-committal in the past as to whether he would consider the construction of new prison, Vicites was less reluctant recently to discuss the possibility, saying that “all options are on the table.”
However, he adds, that several more steps must be taken before a decision can be made by the elected officials.
The county is poised to secure the U.S. Army Reserve Center along McClellandtown Road, a site he previously considered for “prison-related services.”
The state General Services Administration has conducted an environmental study of the 6.5-acre property that indicates the final stages before putting it on the market, said Vicites.
“We should have something by February,” he said, adding that he remains in contact with a GSA liaison about the county progress. “When we get word that (the property sale) is open for application, we will be ready.”
Confident of the securing the reserve center site in June, the county purchased an adjacent 0.15-acre property to enhance the overall property.
While the reserve center property might be a possible location, Vicites said he would not proceed until the assessment study was completed.
“We need those numbers first and get ownership of the property,” he said.
Another possible stumbling block, said Vicites, is whether the county is contractually bound to either architectural firm hired by the past administration to design and/or advise the officials about the construction of a new prison or expansion of the current lockup.
In 2012, Crabtree Rohrbaugh and Associates of Mechanicsburg and RW Sleighter Engineering of Lemont Furnace were hired to complete a population assessment study and then design a new prison.
The plan was scrapped in 2014, and Astorino/CannonDesign of Pittsburgh was brought in to develop a plan that would allow the construction of ancillary buildings that would be connected to the current prison to provide needed cell space and improved services.
When the second plan was estimated to cost the same as the Crabtree construction plan, it, too, was shelved.
“We’re having the solicitor take a look at whether the contracts have expired or not,” he said. “I want to sort it out. We have to know where we stand.”
Although the pace is slow, Vicites said progress has been made.
“We’ve made the contacts to acquire the (reserve) property, and we’re having the assessment done,” he said. “We’ve done everything we can to this point.”