HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)-A Senate hearing was held Tuesday at the Pennsylvania State Capitol to discuss deaths in Pennsylvania prisons.

“The lack of reporting or lack of access to this data by some of our Pennsylvania jails is widespread,” said Sen. Katie Muth (D-Berks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties)

The issue was highlighted by the work of journalists.

“The investigation identified at least 65 deaths in custody across the state in 2022, only about 40 of which were reported as required,” said Muth.

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Advocates want the state to add a “death in custody” checkbox to a death certificate, which they say will help capture more data.

“This is a simple check box that states death in custody “yes or no” and has sub boxes that are arrest-related or incarcerated,” said Dr. Roger Mitchell, professor of Pathology and Director of Center of Excellence for Trauma and Violence Prevention.

Prison expert: Problematic evidence ‘tells you there is something going on’ at Dauphin County Prison

In his first few months in office, Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas testified at Tuesday’s hearing. While running for the seat, he centered his campaign around prison reform.

“Specifically, prison deaths, and I was told that it was a waste of time for me to run that kind of campaign, that it would not be successful,” said Douglas.

Douglas says 16 percent of the county’s prison population is either on suicide watch or mental health watch.

“44 percent of our population is either taking some type of psychiatric meds, and so when we look at that reality, we are not a hospital, but we’re asking our providers to provide that,” said Douglas.

The Dauphin County Prison has been under scrutiny. Three inmates have died in the past four months. In one case, an inmate is accused of smuggling drugs inside, which led to an inmate’s death.

Douglas says staffing levels are a consistent issue.

“When we’re on constant lockdowns because we’re 60 correction officers down in staffing right now, people don’t go outside,” said Douglas.

There will be a town hall focused on issues at the Dauphin County Prison on Thursday, April 4 at 6 p.m. It will be held at the HUB building on Fulton Street in Harrisburg.

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