The Schuylkill County Prison board does not plan on making significant changes to any policies or procedures following the inquest last week into the death of an inmate.
Matthew Koncsler, 21, of Shenandoah, died March 31, 2013, from an accidental drug overdose in Schuylkill County Prison. Last Monday, a six-member jury ruled official neglect contributed to his death. The inquest was the first in Schuylkill County since the 1990s.
"Best practices are our goals," Commissioner and Prison Board Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said Wednesday after a special prison board meeting. "The policies and procedures are there. Everyone is to comply. From everything we've seen, everything has been followed. It is just an unfortunate situation."
A forensic pathologist said Koncsler died of mixed substance toxicity. He had multiple substances interacting in his body, including heroin. A toxicologist said the heroin entered his body within an hour of his death. He was at the prison for four days when he died.
Pottsville police investigated the incident and did not file criminal charges.
"I am satisfied from that standpoint," Halcovage said.
County Coroner Dr. David Moylan suggested possible changes at the prison. They included doctors examining incoming prisoners, X-raying them or have cells without running water for inmates suspected of having drugs.
Halcovage said the board will continue to talk with Moylan and the warden about possible security improvements.
"Whenever you have any type of incident, you look and see what we are doing and if we can do it any better," Halcovage said.
After a brief executive session during the meeting, the board unanimously agreed to fill a vacant corrections officer position. Justine Garcia, Delano, was hired at an hourly rate of $17.51. Garcia will start April 28.