Changes concern officials at jail
By MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-HeraldJOHNSTOWN - Pending federal and state legislation may force the Fulton County Jail to make sweeping changes and could cost the county thousands of dollars in revenue, Sheriff's Department officials said recently.
"These are some of the largest changes I've seen in the 15 years I've been doing this," Capt. Randy Benedict, jail administrator, told the Board of Supervisors' Public Safety Committee last week.
Benedict detailed four legislative changes to the committee.
"It's just informational," he said. "There's no dollar figures attached to it, but in the future, there will be."
The committee voted to oppose one piece of legislation that would have the state Department of Health take over authority of the inmates' general health and dental needs from the state Department of Corrections. Additional legislation also would require DOH's oversight of HIV, AIDS and hepatitis C and would allow that agency to implement corrective plans to handle those diseases.
"That's going to be possibly the most expensive item that will happen," Benedict said.
He said New York City corrections officials already are opposing the proposal involving intervention into jail health services by the DOH.
Benedict said the legislation possibly could turn the local county jail into a "hospital setting."
Another "huge" potential effect on the Fulton County Jail is the proposed federal Prison Rape Elimination Act, Benedict said. He said it may require more oversight and training, which could be an added expense.
PREA is a set of new federal standards to safeguard inmates in jails and state prisons against sexual assaults and sexual misconduct. The standards are due this summer to be presented to Congress, the president, attorney general and "selected" federal and state officials, Benedict said. Once enacted, he said states would have one year to be in compliance.
"A lot of it's procedural, but there will be some training components for staff and inmates," Benedict said.
Benedict said that of the 7.3 million American prisoners, an estimated 60,500 have been sexually assaulted.
"I think there's a lot more that happens that's not reported," he said.
In regard to sexual assaults at the Fulton County Jail, Benedict said there's been "none reported and none that I'm aware of."
He said the new PREA legislation may force his jail to have an officer have more "direct supervision" in the now-open housing units of 48 to 60 inmates. He said staff members basically operate "through the hallways" now.
Other possible effects include state legislation already passed to eliminate the state subsidy to pay counties for housing state-ready inmates and parole violators. Benedict said that loss of revenue to Fulton County may be $70,000 to $95,000 annually.
The federal government also is considering better ways to deal with possible pandemics. Benedict said such pandemics could affect 30 percent of counties' work forces. He said plans are being developed to allow for continuation of operations at correctional facilities if a pandemic hits.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com
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stratford
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07-01-09 5:00 PM
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So what you are saying is you support obama's health care so all people can have the basic human right of being treated?
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resident69
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07-01-09 12:19 PM
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The US wastes way to much money on criminals. Don't break the law and you won't end up being someone's love interest. Homeless vets across america don't get the kind of treatment convicts have! Senior Citizens can't get the health care the politician believe convicts deserve. The way I see it is most politicians are getting a better system in place for themselves when they get arrested. Public flogging is sounding better and better!
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Discobulous
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07-01-09 11:04 AM
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The Supervisors need to pass a law quick that we can only arrest and jail healthy crooks.
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