Pennsylvania

Costs for Pa. prisons soar despite facility closures

Published

7 months ago

May 20, 2024

Costs for Pa. prisons soar despite facility closures

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HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections wants more than $300 million in next year’s budget despite a declining population of incarcerated people and the recent closure of two facilities, sparking tough questions from lawmakers.

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal to the state legislature included more than $200 million in additional funding for the department, which would bring the agency’s full request to roughly $3.3 billion. The department is also asking the legislature to approve an additional $100 million in supplemental funds to cover spending beyond last year’s projections.

Officials contend the increase is needed to address both additional federal requirements and dwindling federal funds; obligations to employee union contracts; and overtime driven by staffing vacancies.

But lawmakers questioned how such a substantial increase was needed after the prison system promised savings following the closure of two facilities in 2017 and 2020. State Sen. Lisa Baker (R., Luzerne) noted the request was twice what taxpayers were supposed to save.

“What happened with the cost savings that we expected from those closures?” Baker asked during a February appropriations meeting. “As we look at the cost to carry forward, it doesn’t seem like saving. Taxpayers are going to ask how did we propose $120 million in closures and we’re looking at a double increase currently.”

The simple answer? It costs more to do the same thing.

The corrections department oversees nearly 38,000 incarcerated individuals across 24 prisons and employs more than 17,000 people in both the prison and parole systems. Its budget includes the cost of running the prisons, which is its largest expense, and operating the state’s parole and pardons boards, the Office of Victim Advocate, and the parole system.

About 85% of the corrections budget increase is due to cost-to-carry increases, Harry told legislators at the hearing, or the cost to continue the same level of services the department currently provides.

State prisons are the biggest cost driver, both in overspending last year and additional spending next year. The agency’s proposed budget includes a $169 million increase for the prisons alone, funds that will go toward growing expenses like utilities, food and facility maintenance, and contract-mandated pay increases for the unionized staff and security officers.

The agency also wants the legislature to approve $53 million to cover similar contract-mandated increases during the prior fiscal year.

Medically assisted treatment

The department also saw significant increases in the cost of providing medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, to people who are incarcerated and suffering from opioid use disorder.

MAT uses a combination of counseling, behavioral therapy, and pharmaceutical drugs to help people recover from opioid addiction. In April 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice ruled that opioid use disorder qualifies as a disability under federal law, which required the state prison system to grow its decade-old MAT program to provide proper accommodation.

Despite the mandate, available federal grants don’t cover the full cost of Pennsylvania’s expanded program, which went $10.5 million over budget. Medication and treatment will cost $30 million in the next fiscal year.

In Pennsylvania state prisons, there about 1,800 people receive this type of treatment, Harry said, but the department expects that number to grow as some county jails begin to provide their own therapies to people who are incarcerated before trial.

Staffing issues

Years after the height of the coronavirus pandemic, staff vacancies still troublePennsylvania’s prisons, and caused overtime costs to exceed last year’s projections by $30 million.

Across the prisons, about 8% of positions were unfilled as of April, including 779 corrections officer vacancies.

“Last year, in 2023, the number I see is that there were 40 employees in your department that had received over $100,000 in overtime pay,” said state Sen. Greg Rothman (R., Perry). “Is that acceptable?”

Harry told legislators the department is focused on recruiting and retaining employees to reduce the number of overtime shifts needed to properly staff the prisons. The department has expanded its hiring beyond state borders and to people as young as 18 years old, though only 16 corrections officers under the age of 21 have been hired so far.

At the same time, the population is smaller than it was before the pandemic, which saw numbers dwindle from more than 45,000 people in 2020 to about 36,000 people in 2022.

The population has slowly increased over the past two years, and the agency expects it to plateau around 40,000 people.

But the department does not necessarily adjust staffing levels in lockstep with fluctuations in the incarcerated population because staffing needs vary by institution and account for the physical layout of the prison, the programs offered, and more, said department spokesperson Maria Bivens.

“In addition, the DOC conducts regular staffing surveys at its facilities to ensure effective allocation of personnel,” she said.

Unplanned absences still drive corrections officers to volunteer for additional shifts even as the department has lowered its mandatory overtime rate. Corrections officers are also required to staff hospital posts when an incarcerated person is being treated at a medical facility outside the prison, Bivens said.

“And while the prison population is down from the highs of several years ago, the remaining population is older, and requires more medical care, necessitating additional staff,” she said.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania teacher arrested in Russia on drug charges is wrongfully detained: US officials

Published

39 minutes ago

December 28, 2024

Press Room

Pennsylvania teacher arrested in Russia on drug charges is wrongfully detained: US officials

A Pennsylvania history teacher arrested in Russia on drug charges has been officially designated as wrongfully detained, US officials announced Friday.

Marc Fogel, a husband and father of two, was arrested in 2021 when he and his wife flew to Russia to teach. He was caught at the airport with what his family said was medically prescribed marijuana that he took for chronic back pain.

Fogel is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence.

The US State Department determined in October that Fogel was wrongfully detained but just confirmed the designation Friday.

Fogel was omitted from a prisoner swap in August that included the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, corporate security executive Paul Whelan and others.

“The United States has been working to secure Marc Fogel’s release for some time,” the State Department said in a statement. “We have long called for his humanitarian release and tried to include him in the August 1 deal, but were unable to.”

Fogel’s wife, Jane, and his sons, Ethan and Sam, said in a statement that “The State Department has finally acknowledged what we have known all along — that our husband and father, Marc Fogel, has and continues to be wrongfully detained.

“Now that we have the full force of the U.S. government behind us, we must do everything in our power to bring Marc home as quickly and safely as possible.”

The designation means the federal government is now legally required to work for his release. His case will be transferred to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, which deals with hostage and detainee releases.

In making the determination, the State Department considers factors, including if there is credible information that the person is innocent and if the country holding the prisoner is seeking to influence US policy or get concessions from the US government.

With Post wires

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Pennsylvania

Election, Olympics, Mangione, drones and more: The biggest stories of 2024

Published

9 hours ago

December 28, 2024

Press Room

Election, Olympics, Mangione, drones and more: The biggest stories of 2024

From the Keystone state’s pivotal role in the presidential election to a tragedy that shocked the NHL world to the capture of an alleged CEO killer, 2024 was an eventful year for the Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware region. Take a look at the biggest stories of the year below and watch NBC10’s look back at 2024 in the video embedded above!

Pennsylvania’s pivotal role during the presidential race and election

The presidential race was arguably the biggest story of the year and Pennsylvania played a pivotal role.

Republican Donald Trump was wounded during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, over the summer. Trump and his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris also heavily focused on Pennsylvania – a key battleground state – throughout their campaigns with multiple rallies and in the case of Harris, a star studded campaign event in Philadelphia on election eve.

Trump and Harris also held their first and only presidential debate in Philadelphia.

Ultimately, it was Trump’s victory in Pennsylvania that paved the way to him winning the presidential election.

There were also plenty of viral moments during the presidential race, including a giant naked statue of Trump in Philadelphia as well as Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner repeatedly warning potential election disruptors to “F around and find out.”

CHOP doctor struck, killed while riding bike in Philly

The death of Dr. Barabara Friedes rocked Philadelphia’s biking community.

Friedes – a pediatric doctor who had just been named a chief resident at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – was struck and killed by a driver while she was riding her bike in Center City over the summer. Police said the driver of the striking vehicle was speeding and collided with Friedes while she was riding in a designated bike lane.

The driver, Michael Vahey, was eventually arrested and charged with DUI.

Friedes’ parents spoke out after their daughter’s death, stating they were working to ensure changes that will help keep bikers safe throughout the city.

Philly-area and NJ athletes shine during the Olympics

The 2024 Paris Olympics was a rousing success and the Philadelphia-area was represented well during the games.

Philadelphia native Kahleah Copper and Pennsylvania Alyssa Thomas were members of the U.S. women’s basketball team that took home the Gold.

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid also won Gold as a member of the U.S. men’s basketball team.

New Jersey native Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won Gold in the Women’s 4x400m event as well as the Women’s 400m hurdles.

Take a look at the full list of local winners here.

A wild year in Philly sports

As usual, sports was a big story for Philadelphia this year.

Both the Phillies and Eagles had promising starts to their seasons that ended in disappointment, with the Phils losing to the Mets in the NLDS and the Eagles losing six of their last seven games after starting the season 10-1.

After the season ended, Eagles legend Jason Kelce announced his retirement.

Months after his retirement, Kelce was involved in a high profile incident off the field in which he was captured on video smashing a man’s phone after hearing a gay slur being directed at his brother, Travis, for dating star artist Taylor Swift.

The Sixers’ promising start to the 2023-2024 season also ended in disappointment as the team struggled following an injury to Joel Embiid. They then fought their way from the play-in to the playoffs only to lose to the New York Knicks in a wild first-round series.

The Sixers’ troubles continued at the start of the 2024-2025 season with a losing record despite the acquisition of Paul George and issues for Embiid with lingering injuries and an altercation with a reporter.

But the biggest Sixers story of the year happened off the court with the team’s controversial plan to move from the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia and build an arena in Center City’s Market East neighborhood.

City Council ultimately approved the $1.3 billion plan which has been met by continuous protests from residents living in the city’s Chinatown community.

The deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau

The sports world suffered a major loss with the deaths of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew. Both brothers were riding their bikes in South Jersey on the eve of what was supposed to be their sister’s wedding in August when they were struck and killed by a car.

The driver, Sean Higgins, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.

After their deaths, tributes for the brothers poured out from the hockey community and beyond.

Family tragedies in Bucks, Delaware counties

Two horrific family tragedies rocked communities in Bucks and Delaware counties this year.

In February 2024, Xuong Le killed five of his own family members before taking his own life in a shooting and house fire in East Lansdowne, officials said.

In April 2024, Andre Gordon allegedly killed his stepmother, Karen Gordon, his teen sister Kera Gordon and Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children, in Bucks County, before being captured hours later in Trenton, New Jersey.

Spectacles above and below

A pair of cosmic spectacles captured the entire region.

In April 2024, a solar eclipse was visible across the United States, including in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, though it wasn’t quite as visible as people expected due to cloud cover.

A near-total solar eclipse over Philadelphia was obscured by cloud cover for some, just ask Flyers mascot Gritty. However, in places along the path of totality from Mexico to Texas to the Midwest, skies remained clear enough to see the celestial show. Plus, video shows a slashing attack on two South Jersey police officers. And, a Florida woman says she couldn’t believe it when an alligator walked into her home. Finally, cherry blossom season is in bloom in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. NBC10’s Keith Jones and Lucy Bustamante deliver The Lineup on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

In October 2024, there was a rare sighting of the Northern Lights across the Philadelphia region.

A geomagnetic storm led to the northern lights being visible Thursday night over Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Did you get a chance to see it?

The spectacles weren’t just in the sky however. In April 2024, an earthquake hit New Jersey and its impact was felt throughout the East Coast, including Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Our very own Brian Sheehan experienced an aftershock while preparing for his live shot, leading to a viral moment.

Pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses

Amid the Israel-Hamas War, pro-Palestinian protests and encampments occurred at college campuses across the country throughout the year, including Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania.

New Jersey wildfires and drones

Autumn’s dry conditions led to several wildfires in New Jersey as fire crews fought flames throughout the Garden State.

Camden County’s health director Caryelle Lasher caught up with NBC10’s Aaron Baskerville to discuss the impacts of the four wildfires in New Jersey.

Also in New Jersey, mystery drone sightings in November and December led to concerns from residents and politicians.

Alleged CEO killer’s Philly connection

University of Pennsylvania graduate Luigi Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania after shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside of a New York City hotel, investigators said.

Thompson’s murder and the subsequent search and capture of Mangione sparked a nationwide conversation about the healthcare system following the discovery of the alleged killer’s manifesto which was strongly critical of the healthcare industry.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 2 Day results for Dec. 27, 2024

Published

17 hours ago

December 28, 2024

Press Room

The Pennsylvania Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

03-07-37-49-55, Mega Ball: 06, Megaplier: 3

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 2 numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

Day: 8-8, Wild: 8

Evening: 7-7, Wild: 7

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

Day: 6-6-2, Wild: 8

Evening: 6-8-3, Wild: 7

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

Day: 9-3-6-5, Wild: 8

Evening: 8-3-8-7, Wild: 7

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

Day: 5-5-9-7-3, Wild: 8

Evening: 3-3-5-6-5, Wild: 7

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

10-11-21-28-51, Cash Ball: 04

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

03-04-24-27-42

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Treasure Hunt numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

06-10-11-19-24

Check Treasure Hunt payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Match 6 Lotto numbers from Dec. 27 drawing

04-06-26-27-29-38

Check Match 6 Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Sign the Ticket: Ensure your ticket has your signature, name, address and phone number on the back.
Prizes up to $600: Claim at any PA Lottery retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
Prizes from $600 to $2,500: Use a Claim Form to claim at a retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
Prizes over $2,500: Mail your signed ticket with a Claim Form or in person at a Lottery Area Office (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Lottery Headquarters is currently not open to the public. Visit the PA Lottery website for other office locations near you.

When are the Pennsylvania Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: 1:35 p.m. and 6:59 p.m. daily.
Cash4Life: 9 p.m. daily.
Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. daily.
Treasure Hunt: 1:35 p.m. daily.
Match 6 Lotto: 6:59 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
Powerball Double Play: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Pennsylvania editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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