IRVONA – A nearly-packed house showed up at the Irvona Fire Hall to hear from the developers of a proposed women’s re-entry facility as well as to voice their opinions and ask their own questions.
Voices were raised throughout the evening between members of the public, local elected officials and emergency responders.
Val Mitchell and Mike Millward of Tomorrow’s Hope, the group behind the proposed re-entry facility first gave some background on their project. When asked, the two indicated that they were a private company, and that the project was still in the development stages.
Mitchell described the background of women’s re-entry and the initiatives. Mitchell stated that the number of female offenders has been increasing. She said that in the past, methods used to treat men were also used to treat women, and to little avail. She also discussed the reasons that men and women commit crimes and the differences in getting them ready for re-entry.
“They need to permanently change from the inside out,” said Mitchell. “Tomorrow’s Hope will provide them with a safe atmosphere where they can change.
While this is the first Tomorrow’s Hope facility, Mitchell and Millward have worked in the corrections field. The facility will contract with counties to take female convicts who are viable candidates for the program. The company has not contracted with the state but indicated that they are in talks with the state about taking candidates. Candidates are rewarded with things such as visitation, while punishments could include privileges being cut or expulsion. Mitchell said that while there would be some person-to-person visitation, the facility would have the ability for guests to Web-conference with their loved ones.
Visitation was one issued that was brought up. Citizens expressed fear over what type of element may come into the area.
Millward said the women will be low-risk offenders and will spend six months to a year at the site. Once their term is up, they will go back to the county that sentenced them.
“Controls to come into a program like this are very stringent,” said Millward.
The developers are looking to build an industrial component as well. This would give the women a chance to make money to pay restitution, court costs and build up some money for when they get out.
The facility will sit on 80 acres in Beccaria Township and will have over 150 residents. While it will have not fencing, it will be staffed 24/7. It will also be monitored by cameras and have secured doors. Those attending the facility will have structured routines, and they will learn life skills, job skills, and budgeting skills among others.
“Those are little things but important things,” said Millward.
The group is looking to contract locally for services, as well as employee around 20 local people. They also indicated that they are in the process of working with emergency medical services, doctors and law enforcement to get the coverage they may need.
Some questions were unanswerable at this time, while others appeared to be answers that some of those gathered did not want to hear.
The McGarvey family were vocal in their opposition to the proposed development. They stated that they lived within a mile of the area, and that they were fearful for their children. They asked a number of question and what-if scenarios.
“I can’t tell you what you want to hear,” said Mitchell at one point. Many questions that were asked were essentially the same question in a different form.
“But I want to know now,” pleaded Dana McGarvey.
“I can’t give you any guarantees,” said Mitchell. “I don’t have a crystal ball.”
One resident asked if the facility would deal with women with drug and alcohol problems. Mitchell indicated that they would. Another resident asked they then intended to build a methadone treatment facility. Mitchell said that they did not, and stated that there would be no drug and alcohol treatment.
One person questioned what affect the facility would have on property tax value. Millward indicated that through his experience with other facilities, the property had a chance of going up in value.
Another citizen asked what the chances were the group would go through with the project after the meeting.
“We’re committed,” said Millward.
After the meeting Clearfield County Commissioner Mark McCracken stated that he felt the developers needed to release more details about the project to the public. He stated that his priority was to learn what he could about the project.