BELLEFONTE — The Centre County Prison Board honored Warden Glenn Irwin during its Aug. 13 meeting as the longtime corrections professional attended his final Board of Inspectors meeting before retirement after nearly 40 years in the field.
Irwin thanked the board for entrusting him with leading the Centre County Correctional Facility and expressed appreciation to current and former board members who supported him throughout his tenure.
“As everybody knows, this is my last Board of Inspectors meeting,” Irwin said. “I want to publicly thank the board for entrusting me with the honor of being the warden of the facility. It’s been a long run in corrections, almost 40 years in the business. So it’s time to pass that torch.”
Board members praised Irwin for his decades of leadership and commitment to both staff and inmates.
“Thank you for your service to Centre County and to the state of Pennsylvania,” Commissioner Steve Dershem said. “We really appreciate what you’ve done and the leadership you’ve demonstrated over the course of not only your career here but your 40 years of professional experience.”
Rather than focus on himself, Irwin credited the correctional facility’s team for its support throughout his tenure.
“It’s definitely a team effort up here,” Irwin said. “We definitely believe in teamwork. Some days it’s all hands-on deck when things are going on. We always make it work.”
Before concluding his final report, Irwin highlighted the facility’s Corrections Emergency Response Team, or CERT, which recently completed a weeklong training course led by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
The volunteer team trained in rapid entry, forced entry and tactical operations during the July program despite extreme summer heat. Irwin noted that team members receive no additional compensation beyond their regular work hours.
He said the lead instructor praised the Centre County officers for their dedication and willingness to learn, adding that staff demonstrated a strong commitment to serving on the specialized team.
The board also heard public comment regarding plans for an additional solar array on prison property. Outdoor recreation advocate Ken Kline Smeltzer expressed concern that the proposed location could eliminate space previously identified as a potential future outdoor recreation area for inmates.
Irwin explained that no final location has been determined because the property is still being surveyed.
“There’s nothing on paper that would be representative of what they have,” Irwin said, noting that the planning process remains in its early stages.
The prison’s monthly report showed a current inmate population of 131, including 97 inmates from Centre County and 34 from neighboring counties. During July, the average daily population was 122 inmates, including 96 from Centre County.
Officials reported continued participation in medication-assisted treatment and mental health services. Thirty-six inmates participated in the medication-assisted treatment program during July, while the facility’s mental health clinician conducted 150 inmate visits and the psychiatrist and psychologist completed 31 visits.
The board also received updates from community partners on reentry efforts. CentrePeace reported continuing classes inside the jail while assisting recently released individuals with transportation, cell phones, identification and employment opportunities through its Training Advancement Program. Barbara Squires said the organization logged more than 400 miles in July transporting former inmates who lacked access to transportation after release.
