BELLEFONTE — The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PADOC) announced today that it will close the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Rockview and the Quehanna Boot Camp after completing outreach to stakeholders and analysis.

The closure process will begin immediately and take place over a term of at least four months.

“Today’s announcement comes after a thorough review of stakeholder input and analysis of the impact of closure on staff, department operations, the community and the incarcerated population,” said PADOC Secretary Dr. Laurel R. Harry.

Key factors in the decision to close SCI Rockview and the Quehanna Boot Camp include a decline in the incarcerated population and aligning Department resources with current needs. The closures are projected to save the Commonwealth up to $100 million in future fiscal years.

In an economic impact analysis conducted by the Centre County government, the county estimated the closure would produce a projected total local economic loss of nearly $118 million.

This figure includes $50.2 million in lost wages, $35.7 million in spinoff job losses, $32 million in reduced local purchases, and $41,390 in lost per capita funding. Centre County Commissioners also projected the county would see an adjusted job loss of 714 positions and its population shrink by roughly 4,000 people.

Every employee at SCI Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp is guaranteed a job offer at their existing pay and classification 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.

However, many staff have said that relocating to these other facilities may be economically impossible for their families.

Department leadership said it will continue to engage with relevant labor unions to transition staff members to nearby PADOC facilities.

The incarcerated population will be gradually transferred to facilities that best meet their individualized programming, security, healthcare and other needs. Boot Camp and other specialized programming and housing units will be relocated to other facilities and continue to operate.

DOC leadership said they will be visiting SCI Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp to discuss the closure directly with staff.

As outlined in the Public Safety Facilities Act (Act 133 of 2018), this closure announcement follows the submission of a report to the Governor and Majority and Minority Leaders of the Pennsylvania House and Senate. The report includes detailed reasoning behind the decision to close and feedback received from the stakeholders.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, visit cor.pa.gov.