State inspectors find deficiencies at Westmoreland prison
Sep. 21—A state inspection of the Westmoreland County Prison found inmate restraints were improperly tracked by staff, keys and security access devices were insufficiently inventoried and cells had sanitary and maintenance issues.
State inspectors who toured the facility in Hempfield on Aug. 1 found seven deficiencies, according to a report obtained by the Tribune-Review.
"Any time there is an inspection, there is going to be findings," Warden Bryan Kline said. "There were issues of noncompliance, and I am going to take this in a serious light and we will become compliant."
State inspectors identified housing, medical and health services, security, sanitation and maintenance as areas where the jail failed to meet standard practices.
The findings included:
—A missing faucet handle on a bathroom sink
—Improper inventory of needles placed on a medical cart
—Incorrect count of handcuffs, leg shackles, belts and other restraining devices throughout the facility
—Poorly tracked key cards and access devices that are shared by staffers
—Missing tools
—Dirty cells
—A missing light cover and exposed fluorescent bulbs and wires in an inmate restroom in the facility's laundry area
"These deficiencies are real and very alarming," county Commissioner Ted Kopas said. "This paints a challenging picture of what is going on at the jail and doesn't speak well of the warden's leadership."
Kline said each of the items has been corrected.
"None of these findings put care and safety of inmates or employees at risk," Kline said.
The warden and Commissioner Doug Chew, who serves as chairman of the county's prison board, received the inspection report Aug. 24, according to documentation from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
The prison board met four days later at the county courthouse. The inspection was not discussed in the public session, nor was it disclosed during a private meeting of the board, Kopas said.
"It was not made available until days after the prison board meeting, and that's a huge issue. I don't know if it was an oversight, an obstruction or if they just wanted it to go away. You can't hide these problems. Government can't operate in the shadows."
Chew said the county responded to the inspection within the time frame set by the Department of Corrections.
"The prison board was notified of the report, but it doesn't make sense to discuss corrective action if no corrective action plan was submitted," Chew said.
Kline said a report that details corrective measures has been submitted to state inspectors.
"We took corrective action, and, upon acceptance from the Department of Corrections, we expect to be in full compliance," Kline said.
Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich by email at rcholodofsky@triblive.com or via Twitter .
