SUNBURY - The father of a female inmate at Northumberland County Prison told The News-Item on Tuesday that the recent decision by prison officials to move the female population into 14 cells on the ground floor has resulted in serious problems that are affecting the health of prisoners.
Steve Yancheski, of Fort Howard, Md., father of inmate Tara Yancheski, 37, of Marion Heights, claimed the new housing quarters contain mold and lack adequate bathroom facilities. He also said the cells experience a water problem every time it rains. He described the housing conditions as "decrepit."
"The women are housed in ancient cells where the water just pours inside when it rains," Yancheski said. "They are exposed to bad conditions and I don't think it's right. Their health is being affected."
Yancheski, a former state policeman from Maryland who formerly resided in Kulpmont, said his daughter has been incarcerated since May 2010 for various criminal offenses, including drug charges.
But Warden Roy Johnson said most of Yancheski's complaints about the housing quarters are unfounded.
He said female inmates were recently moved from their open dormitory-type quarters on the ground floor into 14 renovated cells under right wing because of an increasing population and for security reasons.
"There is a slight water problem in the cells that we plan to rectify by installing rain spouting, but other than that, the inmates aren't subjected to poor conditions," Johnson said. "We painted the cells and cleaned them up. Each of the cells has a toilet and sink and plans are being made to install showers. But the inmates aren't deprived showers. They just have to walk to another area of the prison to take them."
He said that while the cells are located on the ground floor, they have windows.
Johnson reported at last week's prison board meeting that the overall prison population continues to grow. He noted a significant increase in the female population, which prompted officials to move the females into a more secure area similar to cells housing the male inmates. The female population remains segregated from the male inmates.
As of Tuesday, the prison population was 222, including 183 males and 39 females.