Toohil Calls for Termination of MinSec's State Contract

Tarah Toohil Calls for Termination of MinSec’s State Contract

Hazleton, PA – Candidate for State Representative, Tarah Toohil said, “MinSec continues to create a significant public safety concern for the City of Hazleton. MinSec’s state contract should be terminated and its state funding should immediately cease.”

In the fall, State Representative Todd Eachus requested Department of Corrections Secretary Jeffrey A. Beard conduct an investigation into the facility and how it is being operated. Six months later, we, the public, have not received any word from this “investigation” but we are still being inundated with the problems that MinSec is causing for our community.

Thanks to MinSec, Hazleton is quickly becoming a place where convicted criminals freely walk the streets without supervision. The individuals staying in this minimum security prison have caused numerous problems and been arrested for various crimes in Hazleton since MinSec has taken up residence on Broad Street. Business owners and residents are concerned for their safety. Reports show that the management team of MinSec is largely to blame. The latest development is that MinSec has hired a Public Relations Spokesperson, Kate Phillips, who formerly worked for Governor Ed Rendell. Rather than waste money on public relations outreach, MinSec needs to use its funding to improve security and properly manage its operations. MinSec currently receives state funding from the taxpayers.

The state contract should be terminated. In the interim, this minimum security prison should be put on lockdown until its administrators figure out how to control the problems that are continually arising. The public needs to be provided with information on the status of this investigation immediately. As your State Representative, I will always address the needs and concerns of the Hazleton Area. If elected, one of my first acts will be to fully review what can be done for the residents of Hazleton with regard to MinSec.