Lamont McClure met with members of the Lehigh Valley Justice Institute on Tuesday, Feb. 9^th to discuss efforts to reduce the inmate population at the Northampton County Prison (NCP) and initiatives to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“I want to thank Marvin Boyer and the other Board members of the Lehigh Valley Justice Institute for meeting with me today,” says Lamont McClure. “This meeting is just another example of our commitment to being as transparent as possible as we try to do our small part to crush the pandemic.”

The Department of Corrections began working with the District Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender and the Courts in April 2020 to reduce incarcerations. One, by identifying individuals who may be candidates for bail reductions for pending charges or probation violation detainers in order to release them and two, by identifying non-violent offenders for furloughs. Non-violent offenders can be released from the Prison for a certain period of time which can be extended by an Order of Court if circumstances require. During the furloughs, individuals are required to check in regularly with Corrections officers. When the furlough ends, individuals must return to NCP and serve the balance of time they were supposed to be confined. Currently, thirty non-violent inmates are out on extended furlough.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 172 inmates have tested positive. One is currently in quarantine. Fifty employees have tested positive since March 2020. All have completed their quarantine periods and returned to work.