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Janet Irons
State College
Citizens of Clinton County may be rightly proud that their county jail, located in McElhatten, follows state law by permitting its incarcerated residents to get one or two hours per day outside, in a prison yard, weather permitting. This is not only a state requirement; it also benefits the residents of the jail, many of whom came to prison suffering from mental health issues. Multiple studies have shown the physical and mental health benefits of being outdoors for all people.
What many of us don't know is that the jail in the county next door, Centre County, was built without an outdoor yard. In the Centre County Correctional Facility, most incarcerated people cannot feel or see the sun or trees or grass for their entire time inside, which can be up to two years.
State law could not be more clear. According to Title 61-5901 of the Pennsylvania Code, "A chief administrator who may or shall have in charge any inmate, whether the inmate has been tried or not, shall provide the inmate with at least two hours of daily physical exercise in the open, weather permitting, and, upon such days on which the weather is inclement, with two hours of daily physical exercise inside of the correctional institution."
Being confined without ever seeing the sun is a denial of basic mental and physical health needs. Nearly all people incarcerated at our local jails, after having paid for their crime, will return to our community. They need to be given the best possible opportunity to re-integrate and become a contributing member of society.
It is past time for Centre County Commissioners to correct this error. If you live in Centre County please contact your commissioners and let them know that they need to follow the law. The email address is boc@centrecountypa.gov.
Outdoor exercise is a natural and proven way to speed a person's rehabilitation. In the long run it will benefit all of us.