BELLEFONTE — The recommendation by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to close SCI Rockview in Centre County and the Quehanna Boot Camp in Clearfield County has been met with negative responses from local leaders who have previously voiced opposition to the move.

On Wednesday afternoon, DOC Secretary Dr. Laurel R. Harry, said the department submitted its final report regarding the two facilities to Gov. Josh Shapiro and both the 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.

State Rep. Paul Takac (D-Centre), whose 82nd District includes SCI Rockview, was quick to express he was “bitterly disappointed” in the announcement to close Rockview on Wednesday afternoon.

“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.

Since then, other legislators who have argued against the proposed closure by the Shapiro Administration have since spoken out about the DOC’s recommendation.

Centre County’s commissioners warned that county residents and neighbors will feel the employment and economic impacts of the decision.

“These closures are going to be detrimental not only to the employees at these facilities, but also to the employees’ families, as well as returning citizens who rely on support from having their families nearby and who have built strong ties to local programs and service providers,” said Commissioner Mark Higgins.

Commissioner Amber Concepcion, meanwhile, noted the role SCI Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp have played in public safety, rehabilitation and local economic stability.

“This decision makes the meaningful and already difficult work of rehabilitation all the more difficult. I am worried about the impacts,” said Commissioner Amber Concepcion. “We received numerous heartfelt letters from staff and inmates at both facilities, all of whom wanted their respective facilities to remain open.”

In a statement issued by the county, commissioners added, “In this difficult moment, we remain steadfast in seeking cutting-edge, humane, community-based correctional services — keeping the innovative spirit of these facilities alive. We commit to continue collaborating with state agencies and state officials to ensure the needs of returning citizens, correctional employees and our communities are met with integrity and compassion.”

Commissioners shared in the sense of loss and concern of the many community members who advocated for the facilities to remain open.

“If there is anything we have learned during the public hearing process, it is that Centre County residents are dedicated, resilient and tenacious,” said Commissioner Amber Concepcion. “We have seen these characteristics on display as community members have taken to their pens and papers, their keyboards and microphones at public meetings to make their voices heard. We are certain this is the resilience and tenacity that we will use to navigate this transition.”

In Clinton County, Commissioner Angela Harding spoke out about her disappointment in the recommendations by the DOC during the board’s voting session on Thursday morning.

Harding said that while the Commonwealth claims it will save over $100 million in future years that will come at a cost to both Centre and Clinton counties.

“It’s just another example of how rural Pennsylvania continues to take hits by decisions made under the ruse of savings,” Harding said. “I wanted to share that I’m very disappointed about this decision. My heart goes out to the families that live in our community” affected by this.

She further noted that, though job opportunities will be offered to all the staff at SCI Rockview, 62 percent of these individuals will have to drive further to another location.

“That’s probably going to be at least an hour or more for the folks that live here in Clinton County,” she said.

State Senator Cris Dush (R-Pa. 25), a former corrections officer, has previously expressed he is adamantly opposed to the closure of both facilities.

Though unable to be reached for comment on Thursday, Dush attended public hearings held by the DOC in April, where he spoke out against the proposals.

In his remarks at the hearing, he noted he toured SCI Rockview and saw firsthand the facility upgrades the DOC cited as reasons for a proposed closure — upgrade, he noted at the time, had already been completed.

He went on to accuse the Department of Corrections of evading questions about the makeup of the DOC Steering Committee and the process behind its recommendation to close Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp.

Noting that the DOC’s mission is to help reintegrate offenders into society, Dush questioned the decision to close two of the public safety facilities with the lowest recidivism rates in the state.

“You’re taking the two most effective facilities in the Commonwealth and taking them offline,” Dush said, asking rhetorically what impact that would have on communities across Pennsylvania.

76th District State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R-Clinton), who was unable to be reached for comment as of Thursday, also previously encouraged area residents to fight back against the closure.

Around the time of the public hearings earlier in the year, she noted she’d toured the facility and emphasized it needed to remain open.

The Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association issued a statement accusing the DOC of “playing budget games” rather than focusing on its corrections officers and staff.

“As the budget continues to be negotiated the timing of this decision makes no sense. 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,” PSCOA President Michael Ohler said on Wednesday evening following the announcement from the DOC. “The department is more interested in playing budget games than focusing on the safety and quality of life of our brave corrections officers and staff.”

The statement further cites a recent Senate Majority Policy Committee hearing that noted three state-run facilities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have been closed since 2018.

“But their continued maintenance and upkeep have run up a $47 million tab for tax payers — and counting,” Ohler said. “The committee also examined three properties that sat vacant for years before being torn down. The state spent more than $115 million maintaining the Harrisburg State Hospital, Allentown State Hospital and SCI-Pittsburgh. Maintaining SCI-Retreat, which was closed five years ago, also continues to cost (the) taxpayers.”

Ohler also tackled the issues the PSCOA has for the closure of both of the facilities individually, citing few openings at nearby locations for employees and low recidivism rates.

“What makes even less sense is closing Quehanna, which has the lowest recidivism rate in our state prison system and is providing a true return on investment for taxpayers,” Ohler said. “We also question the department’s promise to provide a job to every affected employee. With few openings nearby at SCI-Benner Township for the hundreds of employees who will be affected at SCI-Rockview, many would have to spend about two hours a day traveling to and from work.”

Ohler noted the potential of transfers to farther locations leads to an increase in cost for travel — including as much as $500 a month in gas — and “simply isn’t fair to these hard-working public servants who work one of the most dangerous jobs in the Commonwealth.”