The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections has initiated a process to shut down two of its facilities over the next four months. The closures will affect SCI Rockview in Centre County and the Quehanna Boot Camp in Clearfield County, marking a significant move in the state’s correctional landscape. This decision follows an in-depth assessment of various factors, including stakeholder feedback and the potential impact on the community, staff, and inmates.
“Today’s announcement comes after a thorough review of stakeholder input and analysis of the impact of closure on staff, department operations, the community, and the incarcerated population,” stated Laurel Harry, Secretary of the Department of Corrections.
All employees from the closing facilities are promised job placements within a 67-mile radius, maintaining their current pay levels and job classifications. Specialized programs and housing units will be transferred to other locations to ensure their continuity, according to a press release from the DOC.
The rationale behind shuttering SCI Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp is attributed to a decreasing prison population across the state and the need for extensive maintenance work on these sites. The anticipated financial benefit from these closures could save Pennsylvania up to $100 million in the coming years.
Sydney Roach / WPSU
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WPSU
The Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association raised concerns about the timing of this decision, given the absence of a finalized state budget. “These closures were pitched as a way to save the commonwealth money, but taxpayers are still conservatively spending well north of $150 million on properties that have already been closed but haven’t been repurposed,” remarked Michael Ohler, President of the PSCOA. He further criticized the DOC’s job placement promise, noting the limited vacancies at nearby facilities and the inconvenience of longer commutes.
Impact on Rural Communities
State Representative Mike Armanini, representing parts of Clearfield and Elk counties, highlighted the adverse effects on rural areas. “You know, we’ve had many closures. Now, of course with Quehanna, SCI, the closing of Penn State DuBois … Rural Pennsylvania right now is getting really hit by the current (Shapiro) administration,” he stated.
The closure is projected to result in a loss exceeding $7 million in Centre and Clearfield counties, stemming from diminished payments to local vendors and the economic consequences for employees who may relocate, according to the state’s 2025 Closure Report.
Armanini expressed concerns that rural populations might continue to decline if employees opt to move instead of traveling long distances to their new jobs. The future of the facilities remains uncertain, with bipartisan concerns about potential ongoing costs for maintenance without any benefit.
State Representative Paul Takac underscored the need to avoid unnecessary expenses on closed facilities. “We certainly cannot continue to pay high costs for mothballing or anything like that with these facilities that we’re getting no benefit out of,” he argued, emphasizing that local taxpayers should not bear that burden.
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