New Sullivan Jail Takes Shape New Direct Supervision Model to Be Utilized
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Your Award-Winning News Source for the Upper Delaware River Valley Region Since 1975 Vol. 44 No. 2 JANUARY 11-17, 2018 www.riverreporter.com $1.50 New Sullivan jail takes shape New direct supervision model to be utilized By FRITZ MAYER ONTICELLO, NY — The new Sullivan County Jail is currently under construction, and prog- Mress has been good; the facility may be able to ac- cept inmates in September of this year. The $75 million fa- cility will have 256 beds. Some 25% of the cells will be able to make use of double occupancy, and the facility could be expanded should the need arrive in the future. Ed McAndrew, commissioner of the Division of Public Works and jail administrator Hal Smith hosted a tour on January 5, for reporters and county officials. This jail is divided into pods, and will utilize a direct supervision model within the pods. During the day, most inmates will be allowed to move freely throughout their pod, which will contain an enclosed, outside open-air rec- reation area as well as a room where inmates can have access to legal research. That space will also double as a room for such meetings for Alcoholics Anonymous and for classes to teach basic life skills. With each pod hav- ing these accommodations, fewer guards will be needed to move inmates from one place to another. But perhaps the biggest difference between the old jail and the new one is that during the day, the inmates and the guards will not be separated by bars. Smith said that TRR photos by Fritz Mayer The new Sullivan County Jail, seen here under construction, will consists of pods in which cells on two floors surround a common area, where most inmates will be free to move about during the day, and guards will operate within the pod and will not be separated from inmates by bars. the jail administrators and sheriffs he’s talked with else- thing he shouldn’t be doing,” and addressing any issues where in the state say with this system of guarding in- before they become large problems. mates, “the reduction in violence is outstanding, because The facility will also feature a full kitchen where meals you don’t have those bars in between.” He added, “In the will be prepared. Officials considered an alternative where old jail, you make your rounds and then you go sit at your meals are prepared elsewhere and reheated in the jail, but post, and you don’t have a good idea of what’s going on be- the nutritionist said that type of meal typically contains hind you. In this direct-supervision model, the correction too much salt, so they decided not to use that approach. officer is like a cop on the beat in New York City, so he’s This is one of the cells that will house the most difficult inmates. making his rounds, and he’s seeing who is doing some- Continued on page 3 SPANNING 2 STATES, 4 COUNTIES, AND A RIVER THAT UNITES US That cold hits River Family your animals, too Wellness Tips from a local vet An alternative approach 10 in Callicoon 12 2 • JANUARY 11-17, 2018 THE RIVER REPORTER IN BRIEF Sullivan community DRBC adds meeting on Rail Trail Bethel seeks dog park committee MONTICELLO, NY — Join local residents and offi- hearings, extends WHITE LAKE, NY — At its 2018 re-organizational cials on Tuesday, January 30 (snow date: January 31) meeting, the Bethel Town Board approved the cre- at 6 p.m. in the Hearing Room of the Sullivan County ation of the Town of Bethel Dog Park Committee. The Government Center, 100 North St. for a community comment period on goal is to establish a dog park on part of the 124-acre meeting to discuss the plan to join the disconnected forest reserve at Smallwood. sections of trails in the county to create the O&W Rail The council is looking for interested residents to Trail. Funding has been secured to develop a plan and fracking serve on the committee to help plan this new park. The make improvements, and whether you hike, bike, or town will be seeking grants and other funding sources just want a place to walk the dog, this meeting provides AYMART, PA — Those who wish to attend the for this project. Council members believe a well-run you with the perfect opportunity to find out more and January 23 public hearings in Waymart on the dog park will offer a wealth of benefits to our entire get involved in the upcoming trail expansion. Wnew hydraulic fracturing rules proposed by the community. When complete, the O&W Rail Trail will traverse Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) must register To participate, send a letter of interest to: Daniel nearly the entire main line of the former New York, by January 22. However, on Monday the DRBC announced Sturm, Town Supervisor, Town of Bethel, P.O. Box 300, Ontario & Western (O&W) Railway, from Summitville that it has added two hearings to its schedule and has ex- White Lake, NY 12786 or email bethelsupervisor@lib to Livingston Manor, connecting to the D&H Canal tended the written comment period from February 28 to ertybiz.rr.com. The deadline is February 7. and trail work being done in the Town of Mamakat- March 30. Written comments will be given equal weight ing. The project will also include a spur of the O&W with oral comments at the public hearings. Grants available to combat sexual that runs from Monticello south and could reach Port Public Hearing One will be held on January 23 from 1 violence on campus Jervis. to 4:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center, Ladore Camp, To RSVP and receive updates, visit tinyurl.com/Sul Retreat and Conference Center, 287 Owego Tpk. Public HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf announced on livanContactInfo. Hearing Two will be held on the same day from 6 p.m. January 8 that the It’s On Us PA program is accepting to as late as 9:30 p.m. at the same location. Members of grant applications to combat sexual violence at col- Liberty board axes deputy the public can register for the January 23 hearings at bit. leges and universities. The Department of Education ly/2ApxOB1 (hearing one) or bit.ly/2AgHtsV (hearing will award grants up to $30,000. Applications must be supervisor position two). Registration is not transferable. Those who regis- submitted by January 31. LIBERTY, NY — According to numerous posts on so- tered in advance by December 31, 2017 will have an op- “Since Pennsylvania joined the national It’s On Us cial media, Brian Rourke, the new supervisor of the portunity to speak. Those who registered after that date campaign two years ago, more brave men and women Town of Liberty, ran into some opposition from his and those who register on-site may sign up to speak at the have come forward with allegations of harassment and fellow town board members over the appointment of hearing if time allows or may be added to a waiting list. assault, and we must do all we can to prevent these at- a deputy supervisor. Rourke wanted to appoint Bruce Originally, the DRBC had scheduled only two additional tacks,” said Gov. Wolf. “The #MeToo movement is an- Davidson to the post; he is not a board member, but it hearings, both on January 25 in Philadelphia. However, other reminder of the seriousness of sexual assault in is permissible and has happened in other towns. Da- it has now scheduled a fifth and sixth hearing, both of our society and these grants will help colleges and uni- vidson is the owner of Pestech in Liberty and recently which are more convenient to residents of our area. The versities to partner with us to make campuses safer.” purchased the Liberty Theater and is in the process fifth will be on February 22, from 3 p.m. to as late as 7 Programs or activities eligible for funding include of renovating the building, which has been an eyesore p.m. at the Lisa Scheller-Wayne Woodman Community campus-wide training for students, faculty and staff; for years. Services Center, Lehigh Carbon Community College, institutional campaigns to raise awareness and under- The board members, however, did not approve of Da- 4525 Education Park Dr., in Schnecksville. Register in standing of the reporting process and resources avail- vidson’s appointment, and instead voted to eliminate advance to attend at bit.ly/2qI1tBC or register onsite. Per- able to and rights of survivors of sexual violence; pro- the position of deputy director, leaving no one to chair sons who have registered to attend by 5 p.m., January 26, grams that enhance awareness of available resources meetings if Rourke is unavailable, and no one to sign will be contacted by DRBC prior to the hearing date and and students’ rights or seek to increase mechanisms checks in his absence. provided with an early opportunity to request speaking for anonymous reporting; and efforts to improve ca- Rourke, who was a town judge for 14 years, won a time. Registrants may also sign up to speak at the hearing pacity to collect federal- or state-required data. landslide victory in the election in November to be- and will be heard if time allows. Elected government offi- Grant applications are available on the Pennsylva- come supervisor after the previous supervisor Char- cials and their staff will have the opportunity to identify nia Department of Education website.