The Butler County Prison’s new policy of medically clearing inmates before accepting them is going off without a hitch, warden Joe DeMore told the prison board Tuesday.

Last month, the prison set up a trial policy by which the medical staff examines prospective inmates before taking them in, which DeMore said adds about five minutes to the processing time.

If they are found to be sick or injured, then the prison does not accept them, and the officers who brought them to the prison either take them to the hospital or back to the police station.

So far, DeMore said the prison has denied two inmates, one from Cranberry Township police and one from Butler Township police.

He said their entry to the prison was only delayed by about 30 to 40 minutes while police took them to the hospital to get checked out.

The policy began after state police in September brought in an injured inmate.

About three hours after the inmate was processed, he asked for medical attention, and it was discovered he had a skull fracture he had before coming to the prison and apparently sustained before he was arrested.

He then was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital before being taken to a Pittsburgh hospital by helicopter.

Because the inmate already was accepted by the prison when his injury was discovered, the prison will have to pay for the cost of his care and transportation.

DeMore said he will have a permanent policy for the board to vote on at its next meeting. He said a policy like this is the norm for corrections.