DAUPHIN COUNTY, PA – A Dauphin County Prison inmate has been charged in connection with a spate of recent overdoses inside the facility. Shane Underkoffler, 35, is facing felony charges for allegedly smuggling contraband and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, court records indicate.
District Attorney Fran Chardo reported that Underkoffler concealed drugs in a body cavity to smuggle them into the prison.
The prison suffered a total of ten overdoses, including Underkoffler, with one inmate initially in critical condition. According to a statement from Dauphin County Commissioners, this inmate is now conscious and showing signs of recovery. Nine of the affected individuals have returned to the prison, while one remains hospitalized.
John Hargreaves of the Pennsylvania Prison Society highlighted the need for improved resources within the prison system, emphasizing staff shortages and inadequate pay and training. He noted that there are more than a thousand inmates housed at the facility, exacerbating the challenges faced by prison staff.
Efforts to mitigate drug smuggling include having inmates wear Croc-style shoes to prevent concealment of contraband. Trash bins have also been relocated to dissuade inmates from stashing drugs.
Chardo emphasized the role of human error in the situation, noting that inmates often voluntarily take the smuggled substances.
Dauphin County officials expressed appreciation for the investigators’ rapid response and reiterated their commitment to combating contraband smuggling. An internal investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the findings will be presented to the prison board once completed.