Director Kratz reports inmate population, treatment and hospital figures for August

Mr. Kratz, the director of corrections, delivered the board's August operations report and walked through population, treatment and medical figures.

He reported average populations at the Bucks County Correctional Facility (BCCF) and the women's center, 70 transfers to community corrections, 359 commitments and 469 discharges for the month. On substance-use services, Kratz said 108 assessments were completed in August with 96 court-ordered; those assessments led to 49 outpatient placements, 36 inpatient or residential placements and 11 placements in recovery houses.

Kratz also gave health and mental-health numbers: "229 inmates were treated with Subutex in August," he said, and 302 inmates received psychotropic medications. He told the board there were 12 inmates at Norristown State Hospital and noted difficulty placing some patients there because they refuse vitals and PPDs. "Norristown is not taking those folks," he said, and staff are working with the courts to seek orders to permit vitals and PPDs when necessary.

Kratz reported preliminary results from a Title 37 inspection: "The verbal from the inspectors was we did very well," he said, and he expected the formal report within 30 to 60 days. The board accepted the director's report by motion later in the meeting.