Oct 20, 2016 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – When inmates at the Greene County jail leave the prison for supervised community service projects, they’ll often receive baked good or other treats from people thankful for their work.

John Kingston, who was hired last month as the new warden, said it’s a quaint tradition that the inmates and staff appreciate, but one that must change with the times with increased concerns about security procedures and food allergies.

He said the baked goods given to the prisoners after the crew completes work “opens the door” for liability issues and that items such as underwear, socks, gloves and cold-weather hats would be more useful to the inmates.

“I don’t want to discourage anyone in the community who appreciates our services,” Kingston said during the county’s prison board meeting Thursday morning. “I’d like to suggest to them gifts or socks, something that we can check. I feel like that would serve us better.”

Those clothing items would supplement inmates who are considered “indigent” and could use additional supplies.

“It’s been the culture,” Kingston said. “Certainly, I don’t want to offend people who really appreciate (the jail’s work crew). We’ll look at a different form of helping people.”

Kingston also asked the prison board if he could begin examining whether the jail can install a walk-through metal detector, along with security lockers for visitors to place personal, as a way to better control what comes in and out of the facility.

“This is something we desperately need,” Kingston said.

The prison board voted to give him the go-ahead to begin investigating costs for a metal detector and lockers, but any purchase would have to be reviewed and approved by the board.

Kingston, who worked for 26 years as a state corrections officer and administrator, including time at SCI-Greene prison, has been reviewing a variety of procedures and security policies in the month since the prison board hired him Sept. 22. Kingston replaced Harry Gillispie, who served as jail warden from two decades before retiring in July.

He also raised concerns with the board about a malfunctioning intercom system in recent months and said the jail workers have been trying to contact Montgomery Technology Systems, but have received no satisfactory answers. Deputy Warden Michael Kraus emailed the company Wednesday and was awaiting a response. He suggested that the county might be required to terminate its agreement with MTS if the situation is not rectified.

“This is unacceptable,” Kingston said.

The next prison board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17 at 11:45 a.m. in the county building in Waynesburg.