BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — When Jefferson County Treasurer James “Moon” VanSteenberg voted “no” on approving the minutes of the May county jail board meeting at Tuesday’s June affair, it raised a few eyebrows.
When asked why he didn’t vote to approve the minutes, he said he didn’t feel like he could trust the reports that were being given.
“When someone tells you the same lie three of four times and you know it’s not the truth, why would I vote for that?” VanSteenberg said.
VanSteenberg was referring to the time it takes some inmates to get back into the jail after they return from their jobs in the work release program, also known as the “Orange Patrol.”
The county sheriff’s office and jail oversee the Inmate Work Release Program, and its Orange Patrol performs jobs throughout the county, including snow removal, painting, clean-up, and maintenance.
“We are being told it takes inmates about 10 minutes to get back into the jail, but there are videos that show it’s taking one or two hours to get back in,” VanSteenberg said.
VanSteenberg said he had not seen that himself, but he said he trusted those that did tell him.
“I trust the people that have told me what they are seeing,” VanSteenberg said. “The sheriff’s office is saying they are not paying overtime for their people to sit there and wait to bring people back in.”
“People from 911 say they can see inmates sitting outside the jail waiting to get back in,” VanSteenberg said.
VanSteenberg said he had reports such activity two months ago and believes it’s still happening.
Jail Warden Tom Elbel disputed VanSteenberg’s accounts.
“There may be a few people waiting 10 or 15 minutes to get back in, but not several hours,” Elbel said. “Someone might look out there every so often and see inmates waiting to get back in, but they may be different people.
“Also, as to how long they wait, it depends on what’s going on inside the jail.”
Elbel also said that inmates who are eligible for work release and leave to work don’t always return at the same time.
“It’s staggered as to when they return.”
Deputy Warden Dustin Myers said the tapes that show the outside of the jail are erased after 30 days so they can be recorded on again.
Commissioner Jack Matson said they would look at some tapes to see what is going on.
The next jail board meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 25.
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