Franklin County Jail earns first perfect grade in its history

Thomas Schlager presents the Certificate of Compliance to the Prison Board and the jail staff. The new jail earned a perfect score of 100 percent in the 2007 inspection cycle.

CHAMBERSBURG - Franklin County Commissioners last week received the results of the state inspection conducted recently at the Franklin County Jail. The Certificate of Compliance reflected a perfect 100 percent score earned by the new Franklin County Jail in a two-day inspection conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

Thomas Schlager, Chief Prison Inspector, met with jail staff and the Prison Board to present the certificate. He commented on the challenges faced by the county and the innovative approach that resulted in the new jail.

"Franklin County has now become the example to jails all over the country for how to address criminal justice issues. I can't believe the difference in facility and programs from the old jail."

After thanking Warden Wetzel for the fine job he has done since taking over operations in 2002, Wetzel responded, "The staff deserves full credit for this score." With the new facility open only two full months before the inspection, the jail received no score below "satisfactory" in anonymous scoring discussions with inmates and staff.

In a letter to the Prison Board, Dr. Jeffrey Beard, Secretary of Corrections, acknowledged the endeavors of the jail staff and management. "The Franklin County Jail should be congratulated for what it has accomplished."

Commissioner Chair Warren Elliott also acknowledged the successes of the staff. "However, we would not be where we are today without the competent leadership and the example of collaborative innovation established by the warden. We are fortunate to have both him and his staff in our county."

The Department of Corrections commended the jail administration and the staff for "exhibiting a professional approach to their duties" and thanked them for their courtesy throughout the inspection process. "Materials and documents requested were ready for review and prison administration provided assistance throughout the inspection process," stated the official acknowledgement.