Decision expected Jan. 26
Just days after announcing it was seeking qualified providers to offer specialized re-entry services for inmates being released, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections announced it will close two of its State Correctional Institutions by June 30.
In a Jan. 6 press announcement, Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said the two closures would be selected from a list that includes the Pittsburgh, Mercer, Frackville, Retreat and Waymart facilities, and is being made because of a declining prison population and to save money.
“From the day I got in this job, every single lawmaker I’ve talked to has complained about corrections spending,” Wetzel said. “We’ve gone through a process where we’ve systematically… reduced our prison population. The way you save money in corrections is to close prisons.”
The state currently houses about 49,000 inmates in 26 state prisons, down from a height of nearly 52,000 in 27 prisons in 2012. The department closed its Cresson and Greensburg prisons, and opened a new one, Benner, in 2013. The system, Wetzel said, now operates at 87 percent of capacity. The closures would bump that up to 92 percent, with nearly 1,000 inmates being moved to its Camp Hill facility.
The state will also shutter its Graterford facility in Montgomery County when the new Phoenix State Prison, being built alongside, opens. Wetzel said the state would also be reducing its halfway house capacity from about 3,000 to 1,500. He citied statistics showing inmates who spent time in halfway houses, even those considered low-risk, had higher rates of recidivism than those released directly into the community.
The “Invitations To Qualify” as a re-entry service provider, issued by the Department Jan. 4, seek not only address the need for housing assistance, but also a comprehensive range of reintegration services including drug and alcohol treatment, mental health support, family reunification, mentoring and job training.
As for correction employees, Wetzel said the closings could affect upwards of 800 employees, but he added that all would be offered positions within the system. Of the prisons being considered, SCI Pittsburgh is the largest and would generate an estimated $81 million in annual savings. It currently houses 1,921 inmates and employs 555.
In a separate statement also released Jan. 6, Gov. Tom Wolf said spending money on education, job creation and social services can take priority over correction without sacrificing safety because of reductions in the inmate population.
“The DOC believes we are able to close prisons without security risk because of the historic reduction in the inmate population and crime is down. By investing in the things that make Pennsylvania a better place —like reducing recidivism and improving our schools —we can ensure the long-term prosperity and safety of our commonwealth,” Wolf said.
“I chose to invest in schools—not prisons—because it’s both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. The future of Pennsylvania depends on making investments in what works and I’ll do everything I can to ensure we’re investing in all our kids and their futures.”
The department will announce the two facilities selected for closure Jan. 26.
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