Commissioners, design team work out new Lancaster County Prison details
LANCASTER, Pa. (WHTM) – County Commissioners listened and commented for over an hour Tuesday about the design of the new Lancaster prison.
The design team for the new prison was in attendance to answer questions posed by the commissioners and the public. They provided a draft of everything that is planned to go into the facility.
Mental health and substance use issues are the main themes being considered.
“We know we have a mental health crisis in the community so of course we see that in the jail,” warden Cheryl Steberger said. “There’s a big push to have housing units dedicated to those folks.”
The report calls for over 1,200 beds; however, commissioners weren’t biting at that number.
“I think there was consensus today around 1,000 beds,” Commissioner Josh Parsons said.
“The document does discuss 1,212 beds but it’s very clear with the conversation today that the commissioners are supporting a thousand-bed unit,” Steberger said. “I also support a thousand-bed unit.”
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Steberger hinted at the prison population decreasing by the time they move buildings, which is slated for groundbreaking in 2025. The prison is expected to be fully operational by 2027.
That could change.
The warden believes the new prison will help her workers, as well.
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“It’s a big push as the warden for my staff and to keep the retention of the staff,” she said. “The well-being of the staff [is important] and [I want it] to be an inviting environment for them. It’s a big priority of mine.”
Items the warden is looking for are a cafeteria, locker room and centralized air. The current prison lacks air conditioning and heat throughout most of the facility.
All of that remains on the table for the commissioners and design team.
“Building a new prison is a once in a lifetime opportunity that we have before us,” Commissioner Alice Yoder said.
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