Advocates laud ‘important step’ in push for outdoor rec at Centre County jail. What’s next?
Advocates’ push for outdoor recreation at the Centre County Correctional Facility took a step forward on Tuesday when the county commissioners approved requesting qualifications for a feasibility study and analysis.
The study would investigate the pre-construction, staffing, safety and security analysis of recreation areas in the facility, which currently allows for no opportunities for inmates to get outside unless they participate in work release or are en route to CentrePeace or the Centre County Courthouse. The jail has urban recreational areas — essentially a large opening high up a wall — that pass muster with state law.
This unanimous approval comes after the facility’s board — which includes all three commissioners — voted to recommend approval of the study in March.
In front of a room of advocates for outdoor recreation at the jail, Warden Glenn Irwin said during Tuesday’s meeting that the public input given at the prison board’s meeting has been helpful in the lead-up to the approval.
After the next prison board meeting on April 11, Irwin said two important dates are coming up.
“Following the approval of this request and next week’s meeting, there’s going to be a time period for available prospective companies to submit questions to (county administrator) Mr. (John) Franek and myself,” Irwin said. “Those questions will be responded to by April 26 and all other questions that were directed to Mr. (Jason) Moser will be answered on May 10.”
While the study would likely take months to complete, it would give the board a detailed analysis of the cost for any potential new construction, as well as how many people would need to be hired.
Previously, the jail’s former warden said that regardless of the study, there would likely be challenges to bring more outdoor recreation to the jail, including the hiring of anywhere from nine to 15 new correctional officers — something that will not be an easy task for a facility that is already fighting to stay above minimum staffing levels.
After the request was approved by the commissioners on Tuesday, supporters in the room erupted into applause.
Some of them lined up at the mic, one by one, to thank the commissioners and jail board for their efforts toward exploring outdoor recreation at the jail.
“Thank you for taking this important step toward improving the mental and physical health of incarcerated persons at the Centre County Correctional Facility,” Ken Kline Smeltzer said. “We know that this is only a first, and even preliminary, step, but we are grateful that you recognized this major gap in the humane treatment of our fellow citizens.”