HARRISBURG, Pa. — The administration of Governor Josh Shapiro has put forth a proposal to shut down Rockview State Prison and the Quehanna Boot Camp, both located in central Pennsylvania. This recommendation aligns with the ongoing national trend of diminishing prison populations.
On Monday, officials announced that the anticipated closures could yield savings exceeding $100 million in future fiscal periods. Prison staff members are assured job offers that will maintain their current pay and classifications at nearby correctional facilities. The administration emphasized the importance of public involvement, stating that feedback will be taken for three months before any final decision is reached. Current data reveals that the state’s 24 prisons are operating at approximately 82% of their capacity.
Last week, during the unveiling of his budget plan, Shapiro indicated the intention to close two prisons in response to rising Medicaid expenses. The Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association, which represents prison staff, has voiced its opposition to the proposed closures, arguing that shutting down these facilities could jeopardize the safety of both officers and inmates. The union claims that the reduction in prison violence is partly due to a more balanced distribution of the prison population.
However, statistics from the union show that half of the state’s prisons were at over 90% capacity last year, with four exceeding the 100% mark. Rockview State Prison, situated in Centre County and established in 1915, is noted as the second-oldest state prison, housing approximately 2,100 inmates with a staff count of around 650, though it has a maximum capacity of over 2,500.
The Quehanna Boot Camp, located in Clearfield County, caters specifically to lower-risk inmates and is unique in that it lacks traditional security features, such as fencing. This facility employs about 230 staff members and accommodates around 350 inmates, with a capacity of roughly 600.
As of December, the total inmate population across state facilities stands at just over 38,000. Although this number has slightly increased over the past couple of years, it marks a decline from about 45,000 five years ago and 49,000 a decade earlier when many prisons faced severe overcrowding. Over the past ten years, previous administrations have closed three prisons, while only one new facility, Phoenix, was established in suburban Philadelphia. Shapiro’s administration has also announced plans to close halfway houses, referred to as community corrections centers, located in Greene and Berks counties.
