Third Suicide at NorCo Jail

In late June, I told you that there had been two suicides at NorCo jail within the span of 10 days. Executive Tara Zrinski has acknowledged a third suicide on September 23. 

Pedro Santiago-Espinosa, age 38, was described in an obituary as a "free spirit" and a Liberty High grad.  But he also had an extensive criminal history.  He had just finished an arson trial on September 21 and was found guilty in February of indecent assault. He had been sentenced to 5 1/2 to 11 years in state prison on that charge but was in NorCo's jail for the arson case. 

NorCo Jail as 161 Guards, Director Says There Should be 212

DeeAnn Lawrence, Northampton County's new Corrections Director, described what's happening at the jail during a very informative Courts and Corrections Committee hearing last week. Unfortunately, the meeting was coming to a close at the time of her remarks, so it was an abbreviated report. In a nutshell, her job is to provide a safe and secure environment for the inmates, corrections officers and the general public. 

Larence told County Council that, in recent weeks, she sat down with staff from each of three shifts covering the jail's 24/7 operation, to identify the "concerns, the needs and wants of the facility." She claims these sitdowns led to " immediate resolution of standing staff grievances, grievances, better communication, and an uplifted morale. This approach will continue to increase the relationship between staff and supervisors, ensuring that staff are not merely workers, but human beings.

Unfortunately, these human beings are often mandated to work 16-hour shifts, which does nothing to make the facility more secure or safe. This is primarily due to a staffing shortage.

Lawrence claimed there are currently just 161 corrections officers (COs) in a jail with a census of 480, and this includes 4 who are in the training pipeline. The jail is budgeted for 180 COs and, according to Lawrence, should have 212. 

They still have off every other Saturday, but with mandates, it can be grueling

Dr. Michael Pittaro Conformed as NorCo's New Director of Corrections

Last week, I posted the resume of Dr. Michael Pittaro, who was nominated by Executive Lamont McClure as the county's new Director of Corrections. In addition to an impressive education, which includes a Ph.D. in criminal justice as well as a master's degree in public administration, Pittaro has direct experience at the county jail. He was a filed investigative officer for five years, where he received several commendations for assisting on the capture of escapees. As Treatment Services coordinator, he created the jail's first therapeutic community. He also worked as an internal affairs investigator and criminal records administrator at the jail. 

At Northampton County Council's April 18 meeting, Pittaro was confirmed in a 7-2 vote. The two dissenters were Council members John Brown and Lori Vargo Heffner. 

Traditionally, an Executive is given great deference in his selections for cabinet positions, which are exempt. In the past, I have only objected to three nominations: a Chief Public Defender under John Brown whose wife was a judge (that nomination was withdrawn); a Fiscal Affairs Administrator under John Stoffa who had a history of bad checks (that nomination was withdrawn); and an Administrator under John Brown with no experience and several tax liens (that nomination was confirmed). 

Neither Bown nor Vargo-Heffner provided any rationale for their No votes. If there was something seriously amiss with Pittaro, that should have been disclosed.