Luzerne Countys big house has

guest issues
Gang members, sex offenders, young inmates present challenges at prison
Last updated: August 16. 2014 10:47PM - 5739 Views

By Jennifer Learn-Andes - jandes@i!itas"edia.#"

The Luzerne County Prison has been flled to capacity this year, reducing options to separate rival
inmate factions.
1.

Classifcation specialist Kathy Washo intervie!s an inmate to determine !here he should be
housed inside the overcro!ded Luzerne County prison system.
Story Tools:
Font Size:
Social Media:

$%a&e #n 'in(edin $%a&e #n &eddit $%a&e #n tu")'& $%a&e #n pinte&est*s%a&e $%a&e #n digg $%a&e #n
stu")'eup#n M#&e $%a&ing $e&!ies
More Info:
Luzerne County Prison system
!"# budget$ +30.5 "i''i#n in spending, +552,700 in &e!enue
%umber of employees$ 301
&nmate population 'riday afternoon$ 726
(ousing capacity$ 741 in"ates
Buildings$ 2 - t%e "ain p&is#n #n .ate& $t&eet in .i'(es-/a&&e, w%i% %#'ds up t# 505, and t%e
nea&)0 236-)ed "ini"a' #11ende&s2 )ui'ding #n 3ei%a&d $t&eet
&mpact on taxpayers$ 4%e p&is#n s0ste" is t%e 'a&gest sing'e depa&t"ent e5pense in t%e #unt02s +127
"i''i#n 2014 gene&a' 1und #pe&ating )udget.
Li(e t%e %#stess #1 a dinne& pa&t0, 6at%0 .as%(# "ust t&0 t# #n1igu&e a %a&"#ni#us seating %a&t 1#& 700 pe#p'e wit% 'as%ing pe&s#na'ities,
%ist#&ies and agendas.
/ut %e& %#ies an "ean t%e di11e&ene )etween 'i1e and deat% )eause %e& 7guests8 a&e Lu9e&ne :#unt0 p&is#n in"ates in&easing'0 in!#'!ed in
se&i#us &i"es and 1euds wit% ea% #t%e&.
:#"peting gang "e")e&s and %e&#in use&s and dea'e&s w%# %ad a 1a''ing #ut #n t%e st&eets a&e sudden'0 p'anted unde& t%e sa"e &##1, putting t%e
p&essu&e #n .as%(# t# antiipate p&#)'e"s and sepa&ate t%#se w%# %ate ea% #t%e& as we'' as t%#se w%# want t# )e t#get%e& t# p'#t "isdeeds.
;e& #pti#ns t# "#!e pe#p'e a&e 'i"ited in t%e #!e&&#wded #"p'e5, and ea% adjust"ent %as a &ipp'e e11et.
.as%(#, t%e p&is#n2s 'assi1iati#n speia'ist, 1ee's 'i(e s%e2s p'a0ing %e& %i'd%##d pu99'e ga"e wit% nu")e&ed ti'es and #ne e"pt0 spae in a
1&a"e, ai"ing t# get t%e" in se<uentia' #&de&.
74%at2s "0 j#). = just (eep "#!ing t%#se 'itt'e s<ua&es a&#und,8 said .as%(#, a 'i1e'#ng .0#"ing Va''e0 &esident w%# %as w#&(ed at t%e p&is#n
1#& nea&'0 eig%t 0ea&s.
4%e "issi#n )e#"es "#&e daunting )eause e&tain in"ates an2t )e a&#und t%e gene&a' p#pu'ati#n, in'uding se5 #11ende&s and ju!eni'es
sentened as adu'ts w%# a&e in 7p&#teti!e ust#d0,8 #& P: in p&is#n 'ing#.
7>#u %a!e t# )e a&e1u' w%en 0#u2&e "#!ing t%#se s<ua&es a&#und )eause i1 #ne #1 t%e" t#u%es a P: in"ate, 0#u w#u'd %a!e a p#tentia'
)eating #& e!en deat%,8 said #unt0 :#&&eti#na' $e&!ies ?i!isi#n ;ead @. A''en Aes)itt.
)ougher criminals
4%e at"#sp%e&e in t%e #unt0 p&is#n #n .ate& $t&eet in .i'(es-/a&&e %as "a&(ed'0 %anged in &eent 0ea&s, p&is#n #11iia's ag&ee.
7.%at2s %appening n#w, is we %a!e a "#&e se&i#us, !i#'ent in"ate 1#& t%e "#st pa&t in t%e "ain jai',8 said p&is#n ?eput0 .a&den @a"es La&s#n,
w%# %as w#&(ed in t%e 1ai'it0 "#&e t%an 36 0ea&s.
74%e %ange is just un)e'ie!a)'e, as is t%e t#ta' tu&na&#und in t%e 'ast #up'e #1 0ea&s in t%is !a''e0,8 %e said.
4%e p&is#n is a "i&##s" #1 #unt0 neig%)#&%##ds e5pe&iening in&easing "u&de&s, a&"ed &#))e&ies and 7%ea!0 d&ug dea's,8 La&s#n said.
7= d#n2t t%in( it an )e st&essed en#ug% %#w )ad t%e a&ea is n#w, pa&tiu'a&'0 in t%e %e&#in #""unit0,8 La&s#n said.
Bangs %a!e in&eased )eause 7t%e02&e a'' !0ing 1#& t%e d&ug t&ade,8 %e said.
74%e !i#'ene is a)#ut t%e te&&it#&0 and #nt&#', and we get t%#se #"peting g&#ups in %e&e,8 %e said.
C!e&0 )'#( in t%e jai' #ntains a &ep&esentati!e #1 a p&ed#"inate gang, La&s#n said, &att'ing #11 t%e /'##ds, Latin 6ings, :&ips and #t%e&s.
7.e %a!e t%e" a'',8 Aes)itt said.
3e'ie1 isn2t e5peted )eause gangs a&e d&awn t# t%e a&ea2s '#w #st #1 'i!ing, p&#5i"it0 t# Aew >#&( and P%i'ade'p%ia and &ipe "a&(et #1 use&s
wi''ing t# pa0 "#&e 1#& d&ugs t%an it0 ust#"e&s, .as%(# said.
7=t2s a )##"ing )usiness %e&e, s# #1 #u&se t%e0 a'' want t# '#ate %e&e. And t%e0 a'' want t# &un t%e s%#w. 4%at2s w%0 t%e02&e 1ig%ting wit% ea%
#t%e&,8 s%e said.
M#st #1 t%e '#a' 7%#"eg&#wn8 in"ates a&e t%e addited #nes w%# get aug%t 1#& p#ssessi#n #& &es#&ting t# t%e1t t# pa0 1#& t%ei& %a)its, La&s#n
said.
74%e i&'e is just spinning 'i(e &a90, and we wi'' ne!e& )e #ut #1 )usiness,8 .as%(# said.
*+carier place,
$e!e&a' 1#&"e& #unt0 in"ates &eent'0 &e#gni9ed and app&#a%ed La&s#n w%en %e and Aes)itt went t# a '#a' %#t d#g p'ae 1#& 'un% and "ade
it 'ea& t%e0 d#n2t want t# &etu&n, La&s#n said.
7.e2&e n#t g#ing )a( wit% t%e" gu0s,8 #ne said, &e1e&&ing t# t%e "#&e !ii#us p&is#n p#pu'ati#n.
4%e 7#'d-ti"e&s8 didn2t %a!e t# w#&&0 a)#ut t%ei& sa1et0 i1 t%e0 we&e '#(ed up, La&s#n said.
7A#w t%e0 d#n2t want t# dea' wit% t%is at a'' )eause it2s a 0#unge&, "#&e !i#'ent g&#up,8 La&s#n said.
7=t2s a sa&ie& p'ae n#w,8 .as%(# said.
La&s#n s%a(es %is %ead w%en p&is#n &eti&ees t&0 t# &e'ate t# %is j#) t#da0.
74%e0 (new )asi #&&eti#ns, )ut t%e0 d#n2t (n#w t%is in"ate. 4%is is di11e&ent,8 La&s#n said.
.%i'e instituti#na' (n#w'edge and e5pe&iene %e'p, La&s#n said %e and %is #''eagues %a!e )een 1#&ed t# (eep up wit% s#i#'#gia' %anges and
p#pu'a& u'tu&e t# deip%e& t%ei& new su)jets.
7>#u need t# (n#w w%at "a(es t%e" ti( and w%#2s w%# and w%#2s wit% w%at g&#up and w%at t%ei& "#ti!ati#ns a&e,8 La&s#n said. 7>#u %a!e t#
#nside& t%ings t%at 0#u ne!e& %ad t# #nside& )e1#&e, and it2s a )ig %ess ga"e wit% #n'0 s# "u% &##" t# w#&( wit%.8
P&is#n w#&(e&s %a!e )e#"e we''-!e&sed #n t%e "a&(ings, %and gestu&es, #des and #t%e& gang signs, La&s#n said. $#"e in#"ing in"ates #pen'0
'ai" t%ei& gang a11i'iati#n #ut #1 p&ide #& a 1ea& t%e02'' )e '#dged wit% a &i!a'.
.as%(# ne!e& i"agined s%e2d )e t&a(ing gangs %e&e and said t%e pu)'i #!e&a'' is 'a&ge'0 unawa&e #1 t%e se!e&it0.
7=t2s %a&d t# g&asp w%en 0#u %a!e g&#wn up in t%is a&ea. =t is &ea''0 t#ug% t# #"p&e%end %#w t%is %appened t# us just in a 1ew 0ea&s. ;#w did we
)e#"e 3i(e&s D=s'andE in a 1ew 0ea&sF8 .as%(# said.
4%ese 0#unge& 7gang-)ange&s8 #1ten %a!e a 1ie&e, se'1-ente&ed attitude )eause t%e0 d#n2t e5pet t# 'i!e past t%ei& 20s, Aes)itt said.
74%is &#wd is a'' a)#ut &ig%t n#w, ta(ing ad!antage #1 it and "#!ing a%ead &ig%t n#w. 4%at2s just a di11e&ent su)u'tu&e we need t# dea' wit%,8
Aes)itt said.
Gang recruiting
4%e sene %as p'a0ed #ut "an0 ti"es in .as%(#2s #11ie: a 0#unge&, new in"ate - #1ten a d&ug addit - ente&s wit% a dee&-in-t%e-%ead'ig%ts
e5p&essi#n.
74%e02!e ne!e& )een in t&#u)'e in t%ei& 'i1e. 4%e02!e ne!e& seen t%e inside #1 a jai'. As s##n as t%ei& )utt %its t%e %ai&, t%e0 sta&t &0ing,8 s%e sa0s.
$%e 'a)e's t%ese in"ates as 7&e&uits8 w%# a&e susepti)'e t# #nt&#' )0 gangs inside t%e p&is#n.
74%e0 d# t%at i""ediate'0,8 La&s#n said #1 gang &e&uiting.
.as(%# t&ies t# (eep t%ese !u'ne&a)'e in"ates awa0 1&#" gang "e")e&s i1 s%e an 1ind an e"pt0 sp#t.
4%e nea&)0 "ini"a' #11ende&2s )ui'ding, w%i% is "#&e #1 a d#&"it#&0 setting, is an #pti#n, )ut #n'0 1#& t%#se wit% n#n!i#'ent #11enses.
M#&e se!e&e &i"es a&e ausing "an0 in"ates t# )e#"e ing&ained )eause t%ei& ases ta(e '#nge& t# adjudiate #& t%e0 an2t a11#&d )ai', s%e said.
$#"e d#n2t &ea'i9e t%e #unt0 p&is#n %#uses #11ende&s %a&ged wit% "u&de&s and #t%e& se&i#us &i"es t%at wi'' send t%e" t# state p&is#ns a1te&
t%e0 a&e sentened, .as%(# said.
A t0pia' )ai' 1#& a #unt0 in"ate used t# )e a)#ut +25,000, )ut +100,000 )ai's %a!e )e#"e 7#""#np'ae,8 s%e said.
7As a &esu't, we d#n2t %a!e t%e tu&n#!e& we %ad )e1#&e. 4%e0 sta0 "u% '#nge& and (ind #1 get ent&en%ed,8 s%e said.
=n"ates w%# (n#w t%e 'a0 #1 t%e 'and a&e e!en "#&e 'i(e'0 t# 7w%ee' and dea'8 )e%ind )a&s, Aes)itt said.
-elocation issues
P&is#n e"p'#0ees %a!e )e#"e deteti!es sni11ing #ut inte''igene and suspii#us ati!it0 t%at "a0 wa&&ant &e'#ati#ns.
.as%(# #1ten &eei!es 'ette&s 1&#" "u'tip'e in"ates w%# #inidenta''0 see( t&ans1e& t# t%e sa"e )'#(, iting t%e !isitati#n s%edu'e and #t%e&
e5uses.
7=1 e!e&0)#d0 sudden'0 wants t# g# t# )'#( 1i!e, t%e&e2s s#"et%ing %appening #n 1i!e. 4%en we2'' sta&t sp&eading t%e" #ut a'' #!e& t%e p'ae
)eause t%at2s a )ad sign,8 .as%(# said.
=n"ates s#"eti"es in1#&" .as%(# t%e02&e a1&aid t# sta0 in a pa&tiu'a& sp#t )eause #1 )ad )'##d wit% s#"e#ne %#used t%e&e.
7>#u2d )e a"a9ed %#w "an0 #1 t%e addits %a!e &ipped #11 t%ei& dea'e&s, and it %as ne!e& #u&&ed t# t%e" t%at t%e0 "ig%t a'' end up %e&e in t%e
sa"e p'ae,8 s%e said.
$%e2s a'wa0s #n gua&d 1#& u'te&i#& "#ti!es, pa&tiu'a&'0 wit% 71&e<uent 1'ie&s w%# (n#w %#w t# get w%at t%e0 want.8
74%e02&e &i"ina's. 4%e0 t%in( 'i(e &i"ina's. 4%e0 "anipu'ate 'i(e &i"ina's,8 s%e said.
M#!es a&en2t intended t# ate& t# pe&s#na' p&e1e&enes, La&s#n said. A 1ede&a' standa&d &e<ui&es p&is#ns t# &e"#!e s#"e#ne 1&#" a p#tentia'
dange&#us situati#n i1 t%e0 %a!e suspii#ns a 1ig%t #& assau't "a0 #u&, %e said.
7.%# (n#ws %#w "an0 ti"es we2!e sa!ed 'i!es %e&eF8 Aes)itt said.
./ercro0ding
.as%(# usua''0 &eei!es t%e sa"e g&eeting w%en s%e ente&s t%e p&is#n in t%e "#&ning - gua&ds &e"inding %e& t%e&e2s n#t en#ug% &##" t# %#use
t%e 'atest a&&i!a's.
4%e "ain p&is#n was designed t# %#'d 505 in"ates and %as )een at #& a)#!e apait0 t%is 0ea&. 4%e "ini"a' #11ende&2s )ui'ding %as pi(ed up
"u% #1 t%e s'a( )ut is nea&ing its "a5i"u" apait0 #1 233, #11iia's sa0. Aes)itt %as wa&ned #unt0 #11iia's %e "a0 )e 1#&ed t# &e<uest
1unding ne5t 0ea& t# send t%e #!e&1'#w t# #t%e& #unties at +60 t# +120 pe& in"ate ea% da0.
.as%(# used t# identi10 in"ates w%# an "#!e 7up t%e %i''8 t# t%e "ini"a' #11ende&2s )ui'ding #ne #& twie a wee(, )ut it2s )e#"e a dai'0 tas(
due t# #!e&&#wding.
$%e p&#eeds wit% %e& 'assi1iati#n assess"ent #1 in#"ing in"ates a1te& t%e0 %a!e #"p'eted &e!iews )0 #t%e&s t# dete&"ine i1 t%e0 a&e using
d&ugs #& %a!e "enta' %ea't% #& "edia' issues. .as%(# studies t%e a&&est in1#&"ati#n supp'ied w%en in"ates a&&i!e and a's# de!#u&s news &ep#&ts
t# g'ean #t%e& &e'e!ant detai's.
$e5 #11ende&s a&e %#used in spae #n t%e se#nd 1'##& t%at &eent'0 %ad t# )e e5panded )eause t%at p#pu'ati#n is g&#wing, in pa&t due t# "#&e
#"pute& p#&n#g&ap%0 &i"es and #11ende&s w%# 1ai' t# &egiste& t%ei& add&esses as &e<ui&ed. 4%ese in"ates - t%e #unt was 55 'ast wee( - an2t
)e "i5ed wit% #t%e&s.
74%e&e2s a #de a"#ng t%e in"ates t%at %i'd #11ende&s wi'' n#t 1a&e we'' in t%e gene&a' p#pu'ati#n, and t%at2s in e!e&0 jai',8 La&s#n said.
=n"ates wit% "enta' %ea't% issues a's# a&e in&easing due t# a 'a( #1 &es#u&es #utside t%e p&is#n, Aes)itt said. 4%e0 a&e %#used in a speia' unit
nea& t%e ps0% depa&t"ent, w%i% t&ies t# (eep t%e" sta)'e and, i1 wa&&anted, #n "ediati#n.
Gne #1 t%e p&is#n2s 1i!e 1'##&s is &ese&!ed 1#& 96 1e"a'es, and a new 'aw &e<ui&es in"ates unde& 1H w%# a&e %a&ged as adu'ts t# )e is#'ated and
sepa&ated 7)0 sig%t and s#und8 1&#" adu't in"ates, La&s#n said. 4%e p&is#n %ad tw# ju!eni'e in"ates in t%is ateg#&0 'ast wee(. G11iia's %a!e
)een 1#&ed t# p'ae t%e" in a s"a'' )'#( #ntaining si5 e''s, w%i% "eans an0 !aant )eds in t%ei& 'uste& a&e #11-'i"its t# adu'ts despite
#!e&&#wding.
A)#ut 70 n#n!i#'ent #11ende&s sta0 #ut #1 p&is#n )eause t%e0 <ua'i1ied 1#& pa&tiipati#n in a #nt&ated da0 &ep#&ting ente& p&#g&a" w%i'e
t%e02&e #n %#"e #n1ine"ent.
7=1 we didn2t %a!e t%at da0 &ep#&ting ente& &ig%t n#w, = d#n2t (n#w w%at we2d d#,8 La&s#n said.