JENKS TWP., Pa. (EYT) – 2016 has been a difficult year for those who work at SCI-Forest, the state prison in Marienville, Forest County.
According to previously-published stories on explorevenango.com, there have been five assaults by inmates on prison staff and five cases where attempts were made to smuggle drugs into the prison. Also, there was an arson by an inmate.
The Assaults
- September 24, a 38-year-old inmate punched a 24-year-old staff member several times in the head, according to Marienville-based State Police.
• September 8, an inmate was accused of assaulting an SCI-Forest employee, punching him enough to cause cuts that needed stitches. During the assault, two other employees were pepper sprayed by the inmate after he got ahold of it from one of the guards;
• August 24, one inmate was accused of striking another inmate several times in the head and body with a padlock in a sock, causing injuries that required staples;
• May 14, an inmate was found with drugs and then struck a guard. The guard opted to not press charges;
• February 26, four inmates were accused of assaulting five guards. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported.
Drug Smuggling/Possession
• September 4, a woman was accused of possessing marijuana in her car;
• September 3, a woman was accused of trying to give drugs to an inmate;
• July 31, a woman was accused of trying to bring marijuana into the prison;
• June 29, a male inmate was found with suboxone. It appeared to be packaged for distribution;
• March 13, a woman was accused of giving suboxone to her brother, who was an inmate at the prison.
Arson
- April 11, an inmate was accused of setting a fire in his cell. There were no injuries, but guards and other inmates were exposed to smoke.
Comparatively speaking, though, this year hasn’t been much different than 2015. According to exploreVenango.com reports, there were seven assaults and three incidents in which drug smuggling was attempted.
The assaults included a rape case among inmates and two incidents of inmates throwing feces at prison staff.
Opening in 2004 and managed by the Pa. Department of Corrections, SCI-Forest was built to accommodate overcrowding at state prisons in Pittsburgh and Waynesburg, according to Wikipedia. It cost $126 million to build the prison.
SCI-Forest is one of five maximum security prisons in Pennsylvania.
According to statistics on the state Department of Corrections website, SCI-Forest was built with an operational bed capacity of 1,961 inmates but as of August 31, 2016, held 2,349, nearly 20 percent over the optimal number.
Most state prisons are currently over their ideal capacities. Forest ranks second among state prisons for being over their listed capacity.
Lisa Reeher, the assistant to Superintendent Michael Overmyer, said they don’t believe overcrowding at the prison has anything to do with the increased number of assaults and other incidents.
In terms of more gang members entering prison, Reeher said that’s not necessarily the case.
“The Department of Correction has an office in its central office that monitors gangs both inside the DOC and out in the community,” Reeher said. “We work with the various gang task forces to keep informed about gangs, etc.”
“Certainly we have gangs in our prisons, but we also have exceptional tools – which we can’t discuss for security reasons – that help us to monitor and manage gangs.”
In terms of drug smuggling attempts, the Department of Corrections uses a number of methods to keep them out.
“Incoming mail is searched in our mail room, visitors’ cars are searched by the DOC’s Drug Interdiction Unit, visitors are searched prior to entering the visiting room, and inmates are searched before and after every visit,” Reeher said. “Also, facility staff conducts random and planned searches of the prison, including inmate cells, and random inmate urine tests are conducted.”
“The DOC also monitors and records inmate telephone calls and sometimes receives tips that way.”
“Inmates and their visitors who are involved in contraband/drug smuggling can have their visiting privileges suspended or even permanently revoked, and serious infractions can result in criminal charges.
“All of these steps, which have been consistently used throughout the DOC since the mid-1990s, have worked to keep our prisons safe for the inmates who live in them and the employees who work in them,” Reeher said.
The Department of Corrections is also involved in treatment plans for inmates who have substance abuse problems.
“Inmates who are suffering from opioid use disorder and/or alcoholism may be eligible to participate in the DOC’s Vivitrol program, currently being expanded.”
Substance abuse problems are high in state prisons with the state reporting about 68 percent of inmates having them. The state also reported the number of inmates entering prisons and having opioid addictions has doubled in the last 10 years from six to 12 percent.
“Our ultimate goal is to reduce criminal behavior by providing the necessary treatment and education to the individuals throughout the state prison system, including those at SCI Forest, resulting in their successful community reintegration through accountability and positive change,” Reeher added.
At county prisons in the area, wardens there report little problems with drug smuggling.
There seems to be two main reasons, including no-contact visits and inmates must buy their clothing and supplies from the prison commissary.
In the Clarion County Jail, Warden Jeff Hornberger said his staff pay particular attention to inmates who are on a work release basis.
“They are tested when they return, but they aren’t announced,” Hornberger said. “About five or six years ago, we made some changes and the no-contact visits have worked.”
“And, despite the complaints we receive, nothing can be brought in from the outside in terms of property or clothing.”
“We just have to stay vigilant. If there’s a will, there’s a way,” Hornberger said.
In Jefferson County, Warden Tom Elbel said there have been few problems.
“We don’t have too many high-risk offenders, and no-contact visits have made a difference,” Elbel said.
Also, prison guards may not bring in tobacco products, cell phones, or medications, and there are random pat-down searches.
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