5/26/16

The Schuylkill County commissioners finalized another inmate housing agreement Wednesday, approving a contract to house Schuylkill County Prison inmates at the Columbia County Prison in Bloomsburg, with a cost of $60 a day per inmate. The agreement is renewable in yearly increments. 

According to the Republican Herald, Commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr., who also serves as prison board chairman, said the Columbia County Prison can currently house up to 20 inmates. 

Meanwhile, Halcovage said the county is finalizing a similar housing agreement with Berks County for the same rate of $60 a day per inmate. He said the Berks County Prison may be able to house up to 50 inmates.

 Last week, the commissioners approved an agreement to house inmates at the Centre County Correctional Facility, Bellefonte. The rate is $65 a day per inmate and 10 women are already being housed there.

 On May 4, the state Department of Corrections ordered that the Schuylkill County prison can no longer take any additional prisoners sentenced between six months to five years until its average monthly inmate population is at or below its approved capacity of 277. 

The DOC will review its order in three months.