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Judge wants to entice inmates to get GEDs

Milliron would also like to get inmates involved in work release programs

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County Judge Daniel Milliron wants to entice more inmates to pursue their high school equivalency diplomas and get them involved in work release programs.

“I’d like to see how we can create a better environment at the jail,” the judge told the prison board at Thursday’s meeting.

In January, Milliron agreed to chair the board, succeeding Sheriff Mitch Cooper, who held that responsibility for three years until retiring in January.

While Milliron has been a prison board member for a few years, the judge acknowledged that he is new to the leadership role and asked board members to let him know if they have an interest in a particular pursuit.

Controller A.C. Stickel expressed an interest in work programs like the recent one at the Altoona-Blair County Airport, which assigned inmates to help remodel the airport’s restaurant.

Airport Manager Tracy Plessinger attended Thursday’s prison board meeting to praise the inmates and supervising prison staff for being part of a four-day remodeling project. With help from airport personnel, the group updated the restaurant by painting the walls, refinishing the furniture and installing new lights and flooring.

Plessinger said the inmate labor was crucial for the project. He said they’ve also been helping remodel an airport garage and an office area inside the terminal. As the weather improves, there will be outdoor work assignments that could be assigned to the inmates, Plessinger said, if the arrangements continue.

“We definitely want it to continue,” Warden Michael Johnston said.

The only problem ever linked to work arrangement with the airport was an increase in staff overtime, the warden said.

But the cost of that overtime, Commissioner Ted Beam Jr. said, is far less than the improvements realized at the airport, for which the county is responsible.

If another entity expressed interest in providing work opportunities for inmates, then perhaps it could cover such overtime costs, Commissioner Terry Tomassetti said.

Milliron said the number of inmates participating regularly in work release programs is “in the single digits” so he would like to see some changes that could increase the number without affecting public safety.

“There are jails that make money (from) work release,” Milliron said.

As for encouraging inmates to pursue their high school equivalency diplomas, Deputy Warden Abbie Tate said that could be part of a re-entry program initiative under development to help inmates closing in on their release dates.

Last year, the prison initiated a tutoring program in April for inmates interested in getting their GEDs. While it started with five, participation has since declined, and no one is being tutored at this point. The re-entry program may provide an incentive for participation, because those getting out could head to Stevens School in Altoona to take their GED test. The prison used to be a testing site, but that ended when the test changed from paper to computer.

The prison’s most popular inmate programs have been Alcoholics Anonymous, Reformers Unanimous and Women’s Parenting. In January, those programs attracted 53, 48 and 36 participants respectively.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 946-7456.

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