SUNBURY — Pennsylvania’s first secretary of corrections, who retired and moved to the Central Susquehanna Valley, is volunteering his expertise to Northumberland County officials grappling with the need to reform operations at the county lockup.

Retired corrections administrator Glen Jeffes’ offer of free help was readily accepted by the prison board Wednesday, members said.

“Anybody that wants to offer us help, we’ll take it,” Commissioner Vinny Clausi said.

Jeffes, who moved from Harrisburg to Nottingham Village in Northumberland in August to be near family, said he’d been reading media reports for months about problems at the Sunbury jail.

After dealing with ongoing problems of employee overtime and allegations of sexual misconduct by two corrections officers, the prison board last month invited the National Institute of Corrections to review the jail’s procedures and policies. That’s when Jeffes called District Attorney Anthony Rosini and offered to lend a hand.

“I said if there’s anything I can do to help, I will,” Jeffes said.

Asked about specific issues he thinks need to be addressed or what assistance he’ll provide, Jeffes declined comment other than to say he’s offered to work with the prison board and NIC on issues concerning the jail.

Jeffes has been involved in corrections since 1959, starting his career as a school instructor in a federal penitentiary in Georgia.

He worked at prisons in Iowa and Idaho before moving to Pennsylvania in 1972, when he served as superintendent of the state prison in Dallas for 10 years.

In the early 1980s, Jeffes was tapped by then-Gov. Dick Thornburg to be the state’s first secretary of corrections.

He’s also worked as warden of Lehigh County Prison and most recently taught management courses as an adjunct professor for the state Department of Corrections until the position was eliminated due to budget cuts in December.

Introducing Jeffes to the prison board Wednesday morning, Rosini said, “He’s offered his services to assist us — without charge.”

President Judge Robert B. Sacavage said the offer was “warmly received” by the prison board.

“He’s not in search of a job,” the judge said. “It’s just a pure act of good citizenry.”

Although Jeffes will not be paid, a contract to cover liability will be drawn up before Jeffes inspects the North Second Street facility.