SUNBURY — Following last week’s Northumberland County Prison fire, the focus has been on the logistics building a new facility. But, what about the people who were incarcerated there? Shortly after they were shuffled out during the fire, they were bused to state correctional facilities in Muncy and Coal Township.
Keri Albright, President and CEO of the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way, has worked closely with some of the inmates, “The first thing that I thought of when I heard about the fire was about the women and men I know, and like, and love…their personal things are burning or waterlogged. Pictures of their children, or letters from their mothers may be gone. I thought how sad, because I know that when some of these people get out, they have nothing.”
Albright started a women’s book club at the Northumberland County Prison, and has worked to bring additional programs in including educational activities, CPR classes, parenting classes and more.
She says hopefully these can continue as the inmates remain in the state facilities, because they are worth it, “If we continue to keep them faceless and nameless and behind bars, they are never going to get out of the situation they are in. That is how I approach my work in terms of impacting our community. Just in my experience with the book clubs, I am honored to get to know these people more personally and find they are just like you and I. At the heart of everything, they have different experiences, addictions or abuse they are overcoming, and they are still acting out.”
Albright says she has been in touch with some of the inmates after the fire. She has also talked with the state facility in Muncy, and it is hoped the book club can continue there. The county is still in a holding pattern with inmate housing. The state facilities will house the inmates, at no cost to the county, for 28 days from the day of the fire. Albright was a guest on On The Mark Thursday, and you can download her full comments online here. (Sara Bartlett)