Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of the Lancaster County Prison Board May 15, 2025 The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Joshua Parsons at 9:15 a.m. in the Public Meeting Room at the Lancaster County Administrative Office Building. Members Present: Commissioner Joshua Parsons, Commissioner Ray D'Agostino, Commissioner Alice Yoder, President Judge Leonard Brown, Chief Deputy Sheriff Marc Shaffer, District Attorney Heather Adams, and Controller Lisa Colon. Others Present: Cheryl Steberger, Miguel Castro, Joseph Shiffer, Arla Brown, Bob Devonshire, Ashley Kelly, Neil Ward, Christina Pedigree, Kim Wolfe, Kent Kroehler, Marcos Ramos, Jackie Pfursich, Wilson Carter, Tom Lisi, Gina Bowers, Tiffany Manley, Lastasiah Banks, Jaiden Droege, Candy Torres, Edward Ware, David Lumjel, Matthew Grimm, Cristo Hernandez, Brian Secor, Sam Coleman, William Hinton, Kayla Morant, Kristen Hamm, Jennifer Nissley, Jason Perkowski, Wilson Carter, Lydia Kovalchuk and Kathy Kunkel. Note: there were others present who did not sign in and whose identity is unknown. Commissioner Yoder moved to approve the minutes of the April 17, 2025, Prison Board meeting. Commissioner D'Agostino seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Cheryl Steberger, Warden; Miguel Castro, Deputy Warden of Operations; Joseph Shiffer, Deputy Warden for Inmate Services; Arla Brown, Director of Administration; Bob Devonshire Director of General Services; and Lisa Colôn, Controller, gave reports on their areas of responsibility. All these reports, including operations and statistical information, are posted on the County's website. Warden Steberger began by welcoming the new class of nine officers in attendance today. She then gave her report on the Prison in-house population. In April 2024, 736 was the average population compared to April 2025, the average population was 812. This morning the total is 801 with 119 of those being female residents. Warden Steberger noted that the highest population for the month was 818. Warden Steberger reported that Major Louis Chirichello organized a team of officers from the emergency response team to come in from April 21 to April 25 for the annual spring cleaning shakedown) of all areas of the prison in search for contraband. The Warden reported that Major Chirichello noted there was a lot less nuisance contraband than last year. He attributed that to the security measures put into place and the work of the prison staff. Except for one metal weapon (a shank) found in one occupied cell in the restricted unit, the items found were nonemergency, nuisance items. Prison Board Meeting Minutes May 15, 2025 Page 2 Warden Steberger reported on her visit with some prison staff, Commissioner D'Agostino, Linda Schreiner and Bob Devonshire, to the York County Prison on April 29, 2025. They toured their central booking unit that opened in April 2024. They looked at the size and staffing, new equipment, and security measures. She noted they had some takeaways and that it was a good tour. Warden Steberger presented the 2025 Lock and Key award to ten-year employee Correctional Officer William Hinton. The Lock and Key, awarded annually by the prison administration, is the prison's highest honor and recognizes an employee who goes above and beyond their job to help the facility and staff. Nominations come from prison staff and the staff members vote on the winner. He came to the podium and received a certificate and plaque. Officer Hinton stated that you should always take pride anytime you receive positive recognition from staff and supervisors and expressed his gratitude in accepting the award. He received a round of applause from those in attendance. In response to Commissioner Yoder's question on the upward trend in the prison population, Warden Steberger invited Captain Secor who oversees the records and central booking department for his comments. He stated that they will take a deeper look and use the technology they have, to see if they can find a reason why. They will report back to the prison board in the future. The Warden stated the population tends to increase in the summer. Commissioner Parsons thanked the Warden and her team for the hard work they put in for Corrections Week at the prison. He and the other Commissioners were there to present the proclamation. He said that Officer Hinton can be very proud of the recognition he received and that he and the Board appreciate the work he and his colleagues do. Miguel Castro, Deputy Warden of Operations, reported on the Officers of the Month for April 2025: 1st shift Officer Treshawn Jones, 2nd shift Officer Kayla Morant, and 3rd shift Officer Tyler Stoltzfus. Deputy Warden Castro stated that they all showed exemplary skills and abilities in their work duties. Officers Jones and Morant came to the podium and received a round of applause from those in attendance. Deputy Warden Castro stated the Operations Officer selected for the Month of April was Officer Michael Spotts. Deputy Warden Castro provided staffing updates. Currently there are two sergeant vacancies, one of which is currently posted. On April 23, 2025, two of the K9 teams participated in collaborative training with the team from Northumberland County Prison. On May 5, 2025, a new class of 9 officers started basic training. Warden Castro noted that Training Sergeant Sam Coleman was here today with the new class. Deputy Warden Castro reported that April ended with 35 correctional officer vacancies. Deputy Warden Shiffer wished to thank the Lancaster General Hospital (LGH) for its partnership with the prison medical team in assisting with inmates with chronic illness. He said they meet quarterly to share information and adjust any policies and processes to provide the necessary care. He stated that they are valued partners and Prison Board Meeting Minutes May 15, 2025 Page 3 communication is excellent. He noted that the staff provides case management and works closely with the prison's medical team Primecare. Deputy Warden Shiffer invited Marcos Ramos, Director of inmate Services and Ashley Kelly, Reentry Coordinator, to the podium to provide an update on the treatment program. Mr. Ramos thanked the training staff for taking the time to speak to the new class. Ms. Kelly stated that this new Holistic Wellness Program that will be evidenced based, with a curriculum and data management. She noted that they have started a pilot program for Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT) with 4 staff members who are shadowing the County Adult Probation staff. She noted that they are looking at the week of June 16th to implement MRT on 4 blocks. Ms. Kelly noted that they will be starting 2 additional MRT pilot programs and eventually provide MRT on every block in the prison. She also noted that the Donegal Substance Abuse Alliance DSAA is fully staffed. They are adding information to the inmate tablets about this new program. Deputy Warden Shiffer reported that there are 21 staff in the Inmate Department. The program facilitator for the department has been posted. and noted they are on their way to being fully staffed. In response to Commissioner Yoder's question on what a successful program would look like in 6 months and how things would change, Ms. Kelly stated that coming together as a team with the multiple departments looking at data with an overall reduction in recidivism. Mr. Ramos stated that programming will provide purpose and client based and he is anxious to see a change in the codes in Prison Stat. Commissioner Yoder stated that measuring staff job satisfaction is also important. Arla Brown, Administrative Director, gave her administrative report. Ms. Brown noted that they continue to have one vacant position for the fiscal payroll technician. Ms. Brown reported that on an annual basis they provide inmate profile statistical data to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The BJS is the United States's primary source for criminal justice statistics and the primary statistical agency of the Department of Justice. The data for 2023 is available at Jail Inmates in 2023-Statistical Tables full Report/ Bureau of Justice Statistics. Ms. Brown reported that regarding the FCC order for Correctional Facilities, beginning on or about May 15, 2025, Account Activator will be available. This feature provides family and friends with a funded advance Connect account, a free 60-second call every month. Ms. Brown reported that the Department of Corrections Title 37 findings are posted on the prison website. She said she will be posting the Title 37 sections for the public and highlight the 11 sections that are essential and must be passed by a prison. Ms. Brown stated that if there is additional data that the anyone would like addressed or included in this forum, please contact her. Commissioner Parsons reported that he received a closeout letter from the Executive Deputy Secretary of the Department of Corrections regarding the Title 37 inspection. The Prison Board Meeting Minutes May 15, 2025 Page 4 Secretary indicated that initial findings are not outstanding and there are no deficiencies to report. Commissioner Parsons noted that we have been granted a biannual inspection in 2027. Bob Devonshire, Director of General Services, gave the Facilities Management Report. Mr. Devonshire reported that they are working on the new correctional facility project. Work orders in April 2025 were 118; with 493 work orders year to date. There were 123 work orders per month on average and 129 work orders per month for a 5-year average. Controller Lisa Colon gave the financial report for year-to-date as of April 30, 2025: Controller Colon reported on the Prison operating revenues and expenditures 2025. Total revenue increased by $259,681.10; Personnel expenses increased by approximately $10,232,791.26; supplies increased by $493,745.07; purchased services increased by $4,712,977.24. This gives a total expense increase of $15,439,513.57. For the Prison Maintenance category, there has been a $25,293.02 increase in supplies and $593,699.62 increase in Purchased Services for a total increase of $618,992.64. For the Inmate General Welfare Fund (IGWF), the 2024 balance of $344,680.08 in revenues was transferred to 2025, and a $484,186.71 increase in expenses occurred. The current IGWF balance is negative $139,506.63. The Warden reported on the new prison project. The Warden gave a Construction Management Services update. She reported that last month the County issued a request for Proposals (RFP) at the Commissioners' instruction for Construction Management Services for the new correctional Facility. The RFP closed at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday May 7, and the County received 5 proposals. The County will continue to follow its normal procurement process, and an evaluation committee as designated in Resolution 17 of 2025, will review and rank the proposals based on technical merit and proposed cost. The three highest ranked firms will be required to present their proposals at a future public Board of Commissioners meeting. The Warden stated that the team continues to refine the design of the facility working section by section though the schematic design. Once a Construction Management Services vendor is selected, they will join the Project Team in the design development review process. Warden Steberger noted that they are including staff in the design development refining. She noted that for example, the staff is reviewing what is needed in the supervisor, treatment, equipment, and office areas. She noted there will be clusters or rooms set aside for group meetings outside the housing units. The Warden reported that she and her team will be taking a day trip to Fayette Prison in Unionville on May 22 to take a tour of their new jail. Tom Lisi, LNP, asked about the decision to not hold prebid meetings for the new facility.. The response was that we followed the purchasing guidelines. Mr. Lisi asked about the estimated cost of the new facility. Ms. Shreiner responded that the costs cannot be discussed at this time as we are in the evaluation period. The cost estimate will not be available until they present a recommendation to the Commissioners. Prison Board Meeting Minutes May 15, 2025 Page 5 Mr. Lisi asked about the change orders for the prison project that he felt were much more than the original contract. He stated that he filed a Right to Know Request to receive the information he referenced on change orders. He stated they added up to $10.5 million and were way beyond the original contract. Ms. Shreiner stated that rather than change orders, it was a contract extension which was part of the original plan. She noted. that the scope of work changed two years ago and the $10.5 million was added. The $10.5 was the contract extension to the end of the construction in 2028. This second phase was proposed in the original response 2 years ago and approved at a Commissioners meeting. She noted that the Right to Know response was an internal spread sheet with a column marked as change orders which really is a cost addendum. Pastor Jason Perkowski, Manheim Township, referenced the increase in those that are currently incarcerated at LCP. He asked if we are going to be able to evaluate the statistics and whether changes in bail practices at the MDJ level will be reviewed to see why they are being held. His assumption is that 70% of those incarcerated are not convicted. Commissioner Parsons stated the 70% are being held pre-disposition rather than as not convicted. Mr. Perkowski noted an upcoming meeting they are having with President Judge Brown. President Judge Brown will review everything and emphasized that bail practices and sentencing are up to the MDJ's to consider for safety or flight risk factors. Mr. Kroehler asked if the new ATIMS system will provide the information about those incarcerated who are awaiting trial VS. how many are P.V.s. Captain Secor stated that the audit is coming in a couple of weeks, and they will review the data on what individuals are being held on. Commissioner D' Agostino moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:13 a.m. Commissioner Yoder seconded. The motion carried unanimously. The next meeting will be held on June 26, 2025, at 9:15 a.m. Sincerely, as6v Lisa K. Colôn Controller Secretary of the Prison Board