Pennsylvania lawmakers examine impact of potential prison closures

(WHTM) — Governor Josh Shapiro wants to close several correctional facilities to save money, as he argues they’re no longer needed. Lawmakers in both parties have questions about safety and whether this would save money.

The Shapiro administration has zeroed-in on closing Rockview SCI, the Quehanna Bootcamp, and correctional centers in Berks and Greene counties.

During a hearing on Monday, State Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette) asked Secretary Laurel Harry of the PA Department of Corrections whether she had concerns that more prisoners in fewer facilities will “increase levels of violence and jeopardize the safety of the staff and the inmates.”

Secretary Harry concedes prison violence did tick up last year but insists data from previous closures show a decrease.

“An average of one less inmate-on-inmate assault and an average of three less inmate-on-staff assaults,” Secretary Harry answered.

John Eckenrode, the President of the Correctional Officers’ Union, was in the hearing and heard Harry say closures will not mean overcrowding.

“I heard one of the most ridiculous statements I’ve ever heard,” said Eckenrode. “When she said that closing prisons make it safer for staff.”

“We will still be at below 90% capacity for our male facilities and below 80% capacity for our female facilities,” said Harry.

“I think that you can manipulate numbers to make it look however you want to look,” Eckenrode retorted.

State Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland) thinks this does not look good. SCI Greensburg, in his district, closed back in 2013.

“It is still sitting as a big chunk of blighted property,” said Nelson. “We’ve wasted over a hundred acres over a decade, and we still don’t have a solution.”

“We’re just trying to figure out where is the cart and where’s the horse,” said Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin).

Many Rockview employees live in Rep. Benninghoff’s district. He says neither he nor they got a heads up, and the process is being rushed.

“That kind of upheaval and uncertainty has been very, very difficult on the families that are employed there,” said Benninghoff.

The corrections department says the closures will save $10 million this year and $120 million by next fiscal year. Benninghoff has his doubts.

“I don’t want to be ‘penny wise pound foolish,’ as the old saying is,” added Benninghoff.

Several lawmakers said they’re less concerned about saving money than the state’s recidivism rate. According to DOC statistics, two out of three inmates tend to re-offend.