MEADVILLE —
March 18 and 19 are when two representatives of the National Institute of Corrections are expected to review operations at the Crawford County Correctional Facility, according to Francis Weiderspahn Jr., chairman of county commissioners.
“They’ll take time to be there for at least part of all three shifts and review (operations on) those two days,” said Weiderspahn, who has served as the county’s liaison on the pending prison review. Weiderspahn made the announcement at Tuesday’s weekly work session for county commissioners.
The two representatives, James Hart, past president of the American Correctional Association, and Denny Macomber, chief of jail standards for the Nebraska Crime Commission, are Crawford County’s two top picks out of five potential inspectors from the National Institute of Corrections.
The pair will meet with the Crawford County Prison Board in an exit interview following the review of jail operations, Weiderspahn said. A full report with recommendations will be issued within a few weeks following the review, he said.
The review is in response to a small group of critics which publicly has raised concerns about the jail’s operations following a handful of high-profile incidents over the past few years at the jail in Saegertown.
In January, the Crawford County Prison Board agreed to have the National Institute of Corrections review jail operations at no cost to the county. The National Institute of Corrections is an agency within the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The agency has no official jurisdiction over county jails, so its investigators only make recommendations, not mandates.
All three county commissioners — Weiderspahn, Jack Lynch and C. Sherman Allen — have voiced support for an independent review. The trio also serve on the seven-member Crawford County Prison Board which sets policy for county jail operations. Other seats on the jail board, mandated by state law, are a county judge, district attorney, sheriff and county treasurer.
The review will be the first outside independent review of county operations since allegations of mistreatment were first raised several years ago by some members of the public.
A federal lawsuit has been filed against the county by the family of an inmate who died at the jail in 2008; and a corrections officer died of injuries sustained while on duty in 2010. As recently as Nov. 15, 2012, a former inmate alleged to commissioners she was mistreated while an inmate at the jail, though no lawsuit has been filed.
In October 2009, Crawford County’s prison board, which included the previous board of commissioners, had an internal investigation of allegations of mistreatment at the jail and said those investigations determined that all allegations were unfounded.
The jail board also has noted the county jail has had five consecutive perfect scores following inspections by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. The latest state inspection was in the spring of 2012. Those inspections include review of records as well as interviews with inmates and staff members.
Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.
Local News
Jail review to take place later this month
- Local News
-
-
Camp Cadet training starts today
The day begins at 5:30 a.m. this week on the Allegheny College campus as Pennsylvania State Police Troop E Erie Camp Cadet program celebrates 40th anniversary.
-
Make A Difference Day needs storage space
Make A Difference Day — Crawford County’s annual day of service that has helped countless residents during its 19 years — is now itself in need of help.
-
Retired nurse taps into her golden years
After 50 years in nursing, Shirley Hornfeck had a burning desire to do something really different when she retired from that profession in 2004.
-
PHOTOS: Thurston Classic 2013
Click photo for slideshow -
United Way salutes committed community members
Local residents Tom Chalmers and Dwight Haas exemplify what community service is all about, according to members of the United Way of Western Crawford County, who saw fit to honor them at the organization’s annual donor celebration, held at Sprague Farm & Brew Works in Venango on Saturday afternoon.
-
Thurston gets off the ground; more events to come
Spectators attending the 25th annual Thurston Classic Hot Air Balloon Event Friday evening saw the sponsor’s flight kick off to a rather unusual start — balloons took flight from individual locations beyond Allegheny College’s Robertson Field.
-
New events to mark this year's Thunder in the City
Thunder in the City, the annual free family fun classic car and motorcycle festival, has some new events with this year’s fifth anniversary — a motorcycle competition, a Corvette parade and a scenic bike run.
-
Night Glow at Thurston Classic rescheduled for Saturday
As it turns out, Allegheny College’s Robertson Field will glow this week after all.
-
Thurston flights are a go for tonight
The Thurston Classic Hot Air Balloon Event’s flights are set to soar on schedule today at 6:15 p.m. at Allegheny College’s Robertson Field on Meadville’s upper Park Avenue extension, according to event organizers.
-
Make A Difference Day needs you to make a difference by donating free storage space
Make A Difference Day — Crawford County’s annual day of service that has helped countless residents during its 19 years — is now itself in need of help.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Camp Cadet training starts today
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
Fla. Teen Catches Ride With Whale Shark
G8 Leaders Huddle on Syria
Raw: Obama, Putin Meet at G8
Iran's Rowhani Urges 'Path of Moderation'
Daughter: Mandela Doing 'Very Well'
Investigators Probe Origin of Colo. Wildfire
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
'Game of Thrones' Boosts N. Ireland
Raw: Prince Philip Leaves Hospital After Surgery
Zimmerman Jury Selection Turns to Media Exposure
Raw: FBI Meets Plane After Poison Threat
Family Tweets Say Kim Kardashian Gives Birth
US, EU Leaders Announce Free Trade Talks
