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<p>Two deficiencies were identified in the state&#8217;s annual inspection of Luzerne County&#8217;s prison system, both involving a failure to document monthly inspections, according to a copy of the report released Friday.</p><p>The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections report, which was based on an August inspection of the previous two years, found:</p><p>The prison did not furnish required documentation showing two types of mandated monthly inspections were performed &#8212; a sanitation review of all facility areas to determine the health and safety status of the facility and a tour of the facility&#8217;s living and activity areas by the facility administrator, assistant administrator or management staff.</p><p>J. Allen Nesbitt was correctional division head for most of this two-year period because he was hired in May 2013 and resigned in March 2016. Prior prison deputy warden James Larson, who recently retired, served as interim division head from April 1 until July, when Mark Rockovich was appointed to the head post.</p><p>County Manager C. David Pedri noted the prison leadership change and said the administration reviewed the state&#8217;s concerns.</p><p>&#8220;We already addressed things that have been brought up in this report and look forward to the next inspection in 2017,&#8221; Pedri said. &#8220;We need to make sure these inspections are done and documented.&#8221;</p><p>Rockovich said his administration will &#8220;far exceed&#8221; the requirement for management inspections during his tenure and pointed out new Deputy Warden Sam Hyder has already performed two inspections of the living and activity areas since he started work Dec. 9.</p><p>The county council&#8217;s funding of a sixth prison maintenance worker in 2017 will ensure safety inspections are performed and documented, he said. These workers do more than &#8220;replacing light bulbs,&#8221; he said, due to wear-and-tear at the overcrowded, aging prison on Water Street in Wilkes-Barre. Their duties include unclogging toilets, installing electrical wiring, repairing heaters, replacing door hinges and testing smoke detectors and fire alarms, he said.</p><p>State inspectors also identified several problems with prison policies but did not report additional deficiencies because the county already implemented recommended changes, Rockovich said.</p><p>The state based inspections on requirements in a state law known as &#8220;Title 37&#8221; that spells out mandates involving both inmates and staff.</p><p>These inspections can occur every other year, instead of annually, if the state concludes a county prison complies with all minimum requirements. The state exercised this waiver for the county prison in 2015 based on its positive inspection the previous year, officials have said.</p><p>During the state&#8217;s August review, inspectors observed the &#8220;overall conditions of confinement and quality of life were consistent&#8221; with state requirements.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;The housing and support areas were mostly maintained in conditions that appeared appropriate for the age of the facility,&#8221; the report said.</p><p>Inspectors observed a concern with the condition of shower tiles in the minimum security units, but these tiles were removed pending the completion of a county council-approved capital project to resurface the shower, the report said.</p><p>&#8220;This solution will satisfy compliance of the applicable standard,&#8221; the report said.</p><p>The report also summarized the county&#8217;s compliance with a myriad of other requirements, including:</p><p>&#8226; Training for full-time staff that includes an overview of the law and on the use of force, a prohibition on seeking and dispensing favors to and from inmates and the facility&#8217;s code of conduct and ethics.</p><p>&#8226; Proper classification of inmates that considers whether they are a security risk, committed disciplinary infractions behind bars, are suicidal or have mental or physical disabilities.</p><p>&#8226; Clean clothes and bedding for inmates.</p><p>&#8226; Food kept in sanitary conditions based on a menu reviewed by a registered dietitian or physician with adequate accommodation for special diets and religious meals.</p><p>&#8226; Controls to prevent unauthorized inmate access to cutlery and cleaning equipment.</p><p>&#8226; A means for all inmates to maintain personal hygiene, access medical and dental services, exercise and obtain counseling and a high school diploma.</p><p>A variety of reading and instructional materials were available to inmates, the report said.</p><p>&#8220;Block activities include television, reading books, playing cards and board games,&#8221; it said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Rockovich </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_Rockovich_Mark-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Rockovich </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County prison inspection released