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LEWISTOWN -- As a result of a lower prison population and the ability of the county to meet requirements of the Prison Rape Elimination Act at the main facility on Market Street, the Mifflin County Commissioners have consolidated all correctional operations to the Mifflin County Correctional Facility.
In 2017, the county had moved all female prisoners to the annex facility because of the PREA requirements. However, after recent consultations with a certified PREA auditor, it was determined that the county could meet all PREA requirements at the main facility. Small modifications have been made to the main facility, and the commissioners said the facility is in compliance with all government and industry standards.
"Housing all prisoners at a single location will create a significant cost savings for the county," the commissioners wrote in a press release. "Seven full-time correctional officer positions will be reclassified to part-time status as a result of the move. In essence, those full-time positions had been created when the female inmate population was moved a few years ago to the annex location. Overall operations are also improved since food, medical, and utilities will be directed to only the main facility."
While the prison will no longer be operational at the annex, the move creates additional open space for possible future use by other county offices. The Annex recently saw $3.1 million in renovations, a project that was financed through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program and county funds.
The annex is the new home for the county's Probation Department. Previously, Probation Department personnel were housed at two separate locations. Combining the Probation Department staff frees up space in the main courthouse, and the Mifflin County Domestic Relations Office has plans to relocate to that space in the coming months. Moving the Domestic Relations operations will enable the county to save money through the elimination of monthly lease payments and improve security for the department since it will now be in the courthouse.
The coroner's office and morgue are also newcomers to the annex, moving across the street from the Main courthouse and allowing the public defender's office to relocate from leased space. In addition, the community meeting room has been greatly enhanced, and the total project features numerous other interior and exterior improvements.
The commissioners said only building enhancements that affected the corrections portion of the annex structure were improvements to the non-secure section of corrections, and also some lighting improvements.