BY STACI WILSON
The Susquehanna County Jail Board voted at the Aug. 2 meeting to recommend the county commissioners immediately begin exploring a literacy program at the prison.
Some inmates are sentenced to obtain their General Equivalency Diploma (GED). ThecountyLiteracyProgram has provided the service in the past at no cost to the county but are no longer able to do so.
The Literacy Program was recently notified it would not be receiving any state funding for the coming year.
Literacy director Marilyn Morgan submitted a proposal to the board, asking for a $55 fee per participant and a $4,500 allocation.
Commissioner and Jail Board member Michael Giangrieco said that if an inmate could pay the fee themselves the burden should not be placed on county taxpayers.
Warden Nick Conigliaro said he supported the GED program.
The commissioners will begin developing a policy to continue the GED program at the jail.
As of Tuesday’s meeting, 74 prisoners were in the county jail with 23 full-time and seven part-time corrections officers.
At the July meeting, Sheriff Lance Benedict, chair of the jail board, announced the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility had been inspected and found to be in 100 percent compliance with the Dept. of Corrections.
Members of the Jail Board include County Commissioners Leon Allen, Michael Giangrieco and MaryAnn Warren, along with Sheriff Lance Benedict and District Attorney Jason Legg.
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