The Clarion County Jail Inspection Board learned details Thursday about a proposed video visitation system, but those details weren’t available to the public.
Citing security issues, the board heard the proposal for the system in executive session following the panel’s scheduled meeting Thursday.
There weren’t enough board members present to constitute a quorum and no action could be taken. Commissioners Ted Tharan and Ed Heasley, District Attorney Drew Welsh and Judge Sarah Seidle-Patton weren’t present for the meeting.
Jail warden Jeff Hornberger said there have been no incidents since visitation had been re-opened by the board last month.
“We have not had many visitors so we have been able to practice social distancing in the waiting area,” Hornberger said.
Hornberger said the video visitation system would only be used if a resurgence of the coronavirus would force the restrictions to be re-instituted.
The warden said each inmate is allowed a 30-minute visit each week and the jail staff would determine the visitation schedule.
The work release program was re-opened last month, and the program allows inmates to continue to work at their approved employment during their incarceration. Inmates enrolled in the program must have approval from the court.
Hornberger said the daily average number of inmates was down by almost half from 2019. In 2020, the daily population averaged 60.6 inmates and in 2019 it was 115 inmates.
Work continues on replacing the rooftop air conditioning units at the jail. Hornberger said one unit failed and had to be replaced and another unit was being installed Thursday.
The board’s next meeting will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at the county administration building.