PHOTO PROVIDED SCI-Rockview in Centre County is pictured in this file photo.

BELLEFONTE — Months after an expected announcement regarding the fate of SCI Rockview in Centre County and Quehanna Boot Camp in Clearfield County, a final report from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections recommended both facilities be closed.

A decision regarding the future of both facilities is expected to be announced later this week, according to information from the DOC.

The announcement came Wednesday afternoon by DOC Secretary Dr. Laurel R. Harry, who said the department submitted its final report about the proposed closures to Gov. Josh Shapiro and the Majority and Minority Leaders of both the state House and Senate.

The report, which is available online by visiting bit.ly/47OgRzw, recommends the closure of both facilities “as a result of a decline in the incarcerated populations in order to align department resources with current needs,” the release said.

DOC reports the closures would likely save the Commonwealth “up to $100 million in the future fiscal year.”

As reported previously, the DOC said employees at both locations would be “guaranteed” a job offer at their existing pay and classifications levels.

“Both Centre County and Clearfield County are home to other SCIs — and there are multiple facilities in neighboring counties — providing several opportunities for affected employees to relocate,” the release said.

The DOC said incarcerated individuals would be “gradually transferred to facilities that best meet their individualized programing, security, healthcare and other needs.”

Boot Camp and other specialized programming and housing units would be relocated to other facilities and continue to operate, the release said.

The report also details the department’s outreach to stakeholders and information, analysis and feedback received during the deliberation process. Contributors included:

— Employee bargaining units

— Local elected officials

— Commonwealth agencies

— The general public, via a dedicated email and phone number as well as public hearings held in Clearfield and Centre counties

— Members of the incarcerated population

Per the Public Safety Facilities Act (Act 133 of 2018), the closure decision must be announced after the submission of this report.

Accordingly, the final decision will be announced by the end of this week.

State Representative Paul Takac (D-Centre), who represents constituents within the SCI Rockview area, said in a press release he is “bitterly disappointed” in the announcement to close Rockview.

“I am thoroughly disappointed, frustrated and angry. The negative impacts of this misguided and harmful decision to close SCI Rockview and Quehanna will hit immediately, and, for many, the ripples will continue to resonate for a lifetime,” Takac said.

Takac further noted he and many others on both sides of the aisle have lobbied against the closures.

This includes State Senator Cris Dush (R-Jefferson) who has vocalized his dissatisfaction with the Commonwealth’s decision to consider the closures in the past.

“From the moment our community learned about the initial recommendations in February, I have done everything I could to try to prevent this from happening and to mitigate the harm that it would cause, including holding multiple public forums in our community, talking directly to our neighbors, holding dozens of meetings and conversations with corrections and other agencies, as well as speaking directly with the administration, even as recently as late last week,” Takac said in a press release Wednesday afternoon.

Takac said these efforts “fell on deaf ears” and that “we are left with this misguided decision made by out-of-touch bureaucrats in Harrisburg who failed to meaningfully engage with the public beyond minimum requirements and who did not even care to visit the facilities before recommending their closure.”

Takac said, despite the announcement and recommendation by the DOC, he is urging Ms. Harry and Gov. Shapiro to reverse course and keep both facilities open.”

“I also continue to insist that the DOC does everything possible to provide help and support for all affected employees and their families, as well as those incarcerated there,” he said.

Takac said he would continue to fight for the community and ensure, if the closure comes to fruition in his district, the transition would be as smooth as possible.