New Lancaster Co. prison moving forward

Lancaster County Commissioners are moving closer to putting the nearly $500 hundred million proposed new prison project up for bid and getting shovels in the ground. Commissioners will consider a final funding proposal at the end of March. 

“This is the largest project in county history,” County Commissioner Ray D’Agostino (R) said.

“I’m losing sleep over it,” said Warden Cheryl Steberger. “I can’t wait. It will set a new tone for everyone.” 

The warden and county commissioners invited The Independence inside the current prison on East King Street, which dates back to 1851, to talk about the future correctional facility and all that it will offer. Final designs are in the works.

“The big thing is space,” said Steberger. “The new prison will provide a lot more room.”

“The goal is to provide more flexibility and house individuals according to their needs,” according to Deputy Warden of Administration Brian Secor.

The new facility will be located on 77 acres of land south of the city in Lancaster Township, between the Conestoga River and Route 222. The current prison, often dubbed “the castle” sits wedged between city blocks on five acres.

The future prison will have space for more than 1,000 beds like the current one does. But that’s where the similarities end. The new facility is designed to be one story and features 22 housing units, an upgrade from the present structure.

“There will be separate units for different medical needs from detox to mental illness to the inmates’ disciplinary status to the general population,” Steberger said. “It will be completely ADA compliant.”

Joe Shiffer, the deputy warden in charge of inmate services, said, “Mental health is a big issue.”

He said the 175 year prison can’t meet many of the those needs. 

“There isn’t enough room for some equipment and treatment and inmates have to be transported off-site to the hospital or specialists,” Shiffer explained. The new prison will be more equipped to treat inmates on-site.

“There will be room for classroom space for drug and alcohol addiction, video equipment for visitations and court proceedings, and room to help inmates develop skills for job seeking. 

“The goal is to reduce recidivism,” D’Agostino said.

The state-of-the-art facility will feature a wellness center, pharmacy, classrooms to learn job skills, expanded parking, and something the current jail lacks: air conditioning. The warden says the absence of air conditioning has led to correction officer retention issues at times.  Initial designs maximize natural lighting with many more windows.

D’Agostino addressed the problems the aging prison creates.  

“The lack of air conditioning leads to moisture in the facility,” he said. “They have to constantly perform maintenance and upkeep. There’s no way to renovate or expand the building.

The current prison sits wedged between streets on five acres of land. Officials said safety and security are always the top priorities.

“The new prison will definitely provide that,” said Miguel Castro, deputy warden for operations and security. “Most definitely there will be video surveillance and more opportunities for video conferencing as well.”

“It’s a lot of work,” D’Agostino added. “We’ve tried to be transparent and getting the public engaged.”

He believes the finished project is worth the effort. 

“[We] think about how we can be more efficient, help inmates lead to better outcomes, and help our staff work efficiently with inmates,” the commissioner said. “We also hope to lower costs overall to lead to better outcomes.”

The larger prison and added amenities come with a cost. The estimated price tag is currently between $434 million and $497 million. The county will need to borrow and a tax increase isn’t ruled out.

But D’Agostino says leaders have worked hard to put the county on solid financial footing to minimize any financial pain for the much needed prison. He cited rising building, material and construction costs.

“We’ve done all we could possibly do in lowering debt by $100 million over the last ten years. The rainy day fund is the highest in county history,” he said. “And we have the highest bond rating in county history, the third highest possible. The rub is inflation has wreaked havoc.”

He says consultants and project developers have tried to involve the public along the journey.

“That’s been a positive, to hear members of the public say we see our input and comments on the process,” D’Agostino relayed.

Plans originally began in 2020, were delayed by Covid, and have been moving forward with an expected completion date sometime in 2028.

“We’re anxious for the inmates and staff to see the benefits,” said Steberger.

She’s worked at the current prison for 30 years, the last ten as warden. She thinks it will be a bit nostalgic leaving, but said “it’s time and I can’t wait for everyone to experience the advantages of the new facility.”

Barbara Barr is a former reporter for WGAL in Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna Valley where she led political coverage that earned a Walter Cronkite Award.