HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County commissioners said Thursday that they’re exploring options for reducing the county prison’s population, including the return to housing inmates in Centre County.

While Blair and neighboring counties sometimes exchange inmates for various reasons, Blair and Centre counties signed an agreement in late 2023 that allowed Blair County inmates to be temporarily housed in the Centre County Correctional Facility, at a cost of $75 per day.

On Thursday, the commissioners’ meeting agenda included potential action for signing another agreement with Centre County for inmate housing at $75 a day. But Commissioners Chairman Dave Kessling said the prior agreement was still valid and no action was needed.

The county initially depended on its agreement with Centre County to house inmates during a security construction project which closed access to sections of the prison. The county also temporarily relied on the agreement to deal with a surge in inmates.

Kessling, who has voiced concern about crowded conditions at the prison and his desire to stop using the prison’s gymnasium for housing, said Thursday that resuming use of Centre County’s prison is an option the county can consider to reduce the jail’s population.

Commissioner Laura Burke also indicated that it’s one of various options that commissioners are exploring with the goal of reducing the jail’s population.

Reports reviewed March 3 by the county prison board showed the average monthly inmate population remains currently high — at 381 inmates in February, up from 372 in January. Those same reports showed the average monthly inmate population was 325 in February 2025.

Meanwhile, county prison inmates have continued to raise complaints about overcrowding and conditions in petitions and complaints they’re filing with the U.S. District Court in Johnstown.

In October, a Clearfield County man, Donald Earl Meyer, asked for his complaint about prison conditions to be recognized as a class action lawsuit on behalf of all inmates against the county, its prison and leaders.

In his complaint, Meyer claimed that the prison’s conditions constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” in violation of his civil rights. He and other inmates have collectively complained about crowded conditions, rodents, mold, attacks, leaking toilets, lack of medical care and inadequate food portions.

In a recent filing, U.S. Magistrate Christopher B. Brown indicated that the class action request wouldn’t move forward until filing and administrative fees totaling $400 are paid or until “in form pauperis” papers are filed with the court, explaining the filer’s inability to pay.

Kessling also said Thursday that questions about the options to reduce the prison’s inmate population could also be directed to the court system.

Records show that court-initiated efforts in late 2024 — including an increase in transfers to state prisons, the scheduling of jury trials outside regular terms and allocating more time for parole violation hearings — were factors in temporarily reducing the inmate population.

Records also show the prison’s fluctuating inmate population is currently close to the March 2020 level, when the monthly average population was reported to be 377 inmates. At that time, the COVID-19 pandemic was inching its way into Blair County and a month later, the inmate population was down to 245 inmates. Within that month, fear of the deadly virus being able to spread quickly through the prison prompted county judges and magistrates to engage in a combination of efforts that included temporary release and/or transfer of inmates and curbing admissions into the prison. While some of those actions drew criticism and ignited concerns for public safety, the prison’s average monthly population remained down until the pandemic eased.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.