Snyder County Prison corrections officers notified of layoffs, spurring criticism from union

Marcia Moore, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
·2 min read

Apr. 12—SELINSGROVE — Snyder County Prison corrections officers were notified Thursday that layoffs will begin April 25 as the county prepares to close its facility and house inmates elsewhere.

Warden Scott Robinson informed each of the 24 full- and part-time corrections officers that layoffs would begin April 25 but that transport officers would be needed to staff the booking and temporary housing center Snyder County will operate.

Snyder County Commissioner Joe Kantz said six officers will be needed to staff the new center which will initially be operated out of the current jail located outside of Selinsgrove.

Teamsters Local 764 representative Eric Kime said the decision by the county to restructure county prison operations and subcontract inmate housing was done "haphazardly" and without discussion between the county commissioners and union officials.

"There are a lot of details with no answers," he said.

The new prison structure is also happening amid contract negotiations with corrections officers. A May 15 arbitration has been set.

The commissioners in recent weeks have signed contracts with neighboring counties to house Snyder County inmates, including a three-year agreement with Clinton County to house 40 inmates at a cost of $3,200 a day, regardless of the number of beds occupied.

The reason for shipping inmates out of county is due to rising expenses and staffing shortages, Snyder County officials said.

Kantz said operating the prison is costing $5.4 million a year, out of a nearly $24 million budget. The county anticipates saving $1.7 million a year with the new model.

Currently, the county has 38 inmates housed at the 136-bed prison and in neighboring county facilities.

Kime said the union wants Snyder County to rescind those out-of-county housing agreements, return inmates to the Selinsgrove facility and negotiate a new plan.

"They did not communicate any of this with us. They gave us no warning," he said. "It's a hastily put together plan."

Kantz said the county is following the law.

"We are doing what we need to do, legally," he said.