Pocono News Section

Monroe Prison to Change Policies

Monroe Prison to Change Policies - Friday, May 16, 2008 at 4:21PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Friday, May 16, 2008 @ 04:21pm EST
SNYDERSVILLE - Monroe County's prison could soon shake its bad reputation. Researchers wrote a report that explained how the jail could improve about eight months ago. Friday officials released it.

It was dreary outside of the Monroe County Correctional Facility Friday, but not nearly as dreary as things have been inside.

"Yeah some things happened to make us bigger and better people and we learned from our mistakes, but we are moving forward as a team," said Prison Board Chairwoman Donna Asure.

The jail's reputation crumbled during a sex scandal in 2006. Police accused several corrections officers of having sex with inmates. Other guards got in trouble for giving prisoners cell phones and gifts.

"Personally I take responsibility for everything. I am chairman of the prison board," said Asure.

She said from now on everything at the prison will be different. She and other prison managers will follow the advice in a study from the National Institute of Corrections.

She added, "From this day forward we are looking forward. We are not looking backwards anymore."

One big change, a zero tolerance touching policy.

By law, even a hug or a kiss on the cheek can be considered rape in prison.

"There is an invisible line that always has to be kept and shall not be crossed," said Asure.

Another change, there will be more leadership training and it will be available to more people. The chairwoman explained, "I don't care if you are the newest of the new employee of county government, or of the facility, you are a leader to someone. So why not open leadership training to everyone?"

The prison board will also try to hire a more diverse staff, add more surveillance cameras and find a way to keep long time employees.

Asure said, "Everything has gotta be constantly ongoing and constantly changing to keep up with the changing world we're dealing with as a prison."

The study costs about $7,000. The federal government paid for it.