CENTRE COUNTY — Centre County Prison Board on Thursday, March 12, backed a recommendation to county commissioners to consider an outside efficiency study for the Centre County Correctional Facility, a move officials said could help address rising costs while maintaining state compliance standards.
Warden Glenn Irwin told the board the proposed study, to be conducted by Pennsylvania-based Overwatch Innovations, would review staffing, daily operations, budget and funding use and the per diem rate charged for out-of-county inmates.
“The total for all four portions of this would be not to exceed $62,500,” Irwin said.
Irwin said the prison researched three firms before settling on Overwatch, whose owners are retired from correctional facilities in Pennsylvania.
Commissioner Amber Concepcion said the review could be worthwhile as prison costs continue climbing.
“You know, we have significant costs at the facility here,” Concepcion said. “But they’re rising at a rate that is probably unsustainable for the county. So having another set of eyes on this from some outside experts who have a lot of experience is probably a really good idea.”
The board voted to recommend that county commissioners consider approving the study.
In a follow-up response to The Centre County Gazette, Irwin said personnel is the largest factor driving prison costs.
“Personnel costs is the biggest portion of our 2026 budget, accounting for approximately 60-65% of the total budget for the facility,” Irwin said. “Increased costs in health care also affects the facilities budget.”
Irwin said he hopes the study would give prison officials, the prison board and commissioners a fuller picture of the facility’s operations and efficiency.
“The proposed study from an independent firm will provide the facility, the Prison Board of Inspectors and the Commissioners with an overview of the efficiency of the operations at our facility,” Irwin said. “Once we receive all the data from the study it will be reviewed in depth to determine what changes, if any, may come based on the study.”
Also during the meeting, Irwin announced the prison had achieved 100% compliance with Title 37, the state regulations governing county correctional facilities.
“We’re very happy to announce that we continue on our path of being 100% in compliance,” Irwin said.
In his follow-up comments, Irwin said the prison must balance compliance with cost control.
“While we are in 100% compliance with PA laws for the operations of a county correctional facility, we must meet and maintain that level of compliance,” Irwin said. “We try to take cost effective approaches to our daily operations while staying within the PA regulations.”
He added that prison officials review the budget throughout the year and must weigh “want versus need” while managing both operations and compliance.
The board also heard concerns about substance use trends in the community. During discussion of county overdose data, Irwin said methamphetamine has become especially prevalent.
“Meth, because it’s so cheap right now, is the most popular drug of choice,” Irwin said.
Kratom was also discussed during the meeting. Irwin said afterward that the substance has increasingly appeared in training and educational sessions.
“While I am not a chemist or a physician, during some various trainings and educational sessions Kratom has been discussed,” Irwin said. “It is basically an herbal substance that can give a stimulant and opioid effect.”
At the start of the meeting, Irwin also recognized Deputy Warden Danielle Minarchick for becoming certified as a corrections health professional through the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare.
“It’s a pretty big deal,” Irwin said.
In his follow-up response, Irwin said Minarchick’s certification reflects both personal commitment and institutional benefit.
“Deputy Minarchick is a very program oriented individual and wants to ensure the facility offers programming and healthcare that meet the needs of the incarcerated population at the facility,” he said. “By her undertaking this course and now being certified, it further shows her level of commitment to not only herself but also to the facility.”
