By Kyle Wind
The Times-Tribune
SCRANTON, Pa. — Lackawanna County prisoners will patrol parts of the jail under a new suicide prevention program.
The program, which costs about $50,000 a year, will have the inmates check in on other prisoners between regular correctional officers’ rounds.
The plan is to deploy “tier walkers” in 21 areas on three, eight-hour shifts per day.
The jail will pay the inmates $3 per day to do the job, Warden Robert McMillan told the prison board on Wednesday.
While it’s one of the lower paying jobs available at the prison, the warden expects an ample number of interested inmates.
“Inmates are always looking for work,” he said.
The prison board became increasingly concerned about mental health and suicide prevention last fall, when three inmates hanged themselves between June 28 and Oct. 28.
Prison staff stopped at least two other suicide attempts and got the prisoners medical treatment before it was too late, according to the warden’s written reports.
In 23 other incidents, prison staff reported having to restrain inmates for their own safety. Examples include prisoners banging their heads against walls or cell doors, a prisoner who relentlessly picked at a wound and incidents during which a prisoner covered himself with feces.
As such, Mr. McMillan welcomed the help from the new program at a time when prison officials say county jails face increasing challenges dealing with mental illness.
“It’s always good to have another set of eyes,” the warden said.
Republican County Commissioner Pat O’Malley in November suggested the tactic, which he said helped turn the tide during a surge in suicides when he was a correctional officer.
“The tier walker program is going to diminish the changes of people committing suicide,” Mr. O’Malley said Wednesday.