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Judge: Reentry cheaper than housing inmates elsewhere

The county’s reentry program cost a total of $1.5 million from its opening in September-October 2014 through August of this year, while about $3.61 million has been spent on out-of-county housing for Lycoming County inmates over the same time period, according to a report provided by John Stahl, adult probation office supervisor.

Kevin DeParlos, county prison warden, presented the report at Friday’s prison board meeting.

Through the program, prison overcrowding has been reduced, saving county dollars, and has not exceeded the budget designated for reentry, said President Judge Nancy Butts. And, without the program, the county would have spent far more than the $1.5 million it has paid to the GEO Group for rendering those services, she added.

“We did deliver on all the promises that we made,” she said. “The daily cost per person is probably less than half of what it costs to keep a person in prison per day.”

There were 78 people in the program as of Oct. 3, and there has been a total of 610 processed intakes including returns, according to the report.

DeParlos also reported that female overcrowding continues to be a problem, not just for Lycoming County, but state and nationwide. September saw an average of 7.5 females transferred to out-of-county housing.

In another matter, DeParlos reported that correctional staff received fire safety training on Sept. 21 and various prison staff participated in advanced firearms training throughout September.

The next prison board meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 9 in the Lycoming County Courthouse.

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