For immediate release
Feb. 23, 2022
York County Prison Board recommends relocation of Central Booking from Judicial Center to Prison
Move to consolidate defendant services and allow police to quickly return to streets
The York County Prison Board voted unanimously at its Feb. 9 to recommend relocating Central Booking – currently at the York County Judicial Center – to York County Prison.
Presided over by an on-call district magistrate and York County Sheriff’s Office deputies, the office of Central Booking operates after normal business hours, holding and arraigning those arrested by police.
The proposed move will require some construction and renovation of vacant space at the prison, located at 3400 Concord Road, Springettsbury Township.
“This will be a good move for the agencies that utilize Central Booking, for the county and for the taxpayers,” Prison Board President Doug Hoke said.
Medical clearance at prison
The move to the prison will allow police to hand-off custody of defendants to the prison staff, where they can be examined by the prison’s medical provider.
“If they (defendants) are brought here and they meet the protocol to be checked-out medically, we can have a registered nurse walk right over and make the assessment, which could possibly minimize the need for hospital clearances,” York County Prison Warden Adam Ogle said.
Currently, police must often endure hours-long waits at local hospitals to obtain medical clearances of defendants before they are arraigned.
This will allow “boots back on the street,” in a more timely manner, keeping things safe for residents, Hoke said.
If, in some cases, a defendant may arrive at Central Booking and still require a trip to an area hospital, prison correctional officers and/or York County Sheriff’s Office deputies will coordinate the transport, freeing police officers to return to patrol, said Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy of Operations Steven Diehl.
Diehl said local law enforcement agencies “were very receptive, very happy of not having their officers tied up at the hospital.”
Some features of new Central Booking facilities
- A separate, secure entrance to the prison for law enforcement.
- Arraignment rooms.
- 24/7/365 phlebotomy services for DUI defendants.
- Fingerprinting room.
- Holding cells.
Pending approval from the York County Board of Commissioners, the project could begin later this year, with completion projected in late fall 2023. The county has yet to solicit bids on the estimated $3.3 million project.
Email media contact Ted Czech
Telephone: 717-891-8548