Centre County leaders, residents voice opposition to proposal to close Rockview state prison
A state lawmaker who represents part of Centre County said Monday he’s been unsatisfied with the answers he’s received from Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration about its proposed closure of Rockview state prison and Quehanna Boot Camp.
State Rep. Paul Takac, D-College Township, told the more than three dozen people gathered in the Benner Township Municipal Building that he would “fight like hell” to get answers and support the community in the face of the proposal.
“Frankly, I didn’t get great answers,” Takac said of the state Department of Corrections’ testimony during a budget hearing last month. “I didn’t hear great answers to a lot of them, so we’re continuing to ask those questions and making sure that we ultimately do get answers to those.”
In Monday’s meeting that lasted more than 90 minutes — one of a string Takac scheduled across the county — about a half-dozen people made their concerns known to the state representative, as well as Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins and Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County President and CEO Greg Scott.
Several community members expressed concern about what could be the loss of hundreds of jobs from the region, an amount that would nearly make it the largest closure this century in Centre County. The county has estimated the proposed closure would represent an at least a $118 million hit to Centre County’s economy annually.
“I think back to growing up here, the three most significant monuments in our county were Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Mall and Rockview,” Scott, a Centre County native, said. “Those are things that just cemented in my memory of growing up here, so the thought of Rockview not being there is almost hard to even imagine.”
Other residents touted the programming offered at the two facilities and highlighted examples of what could be lost if those options are discontinued or moved to another state prison.
Some questioned what could happen with Rockview’s vast property if the proposal is finalized, and others were critical of the DOC’s assurance that every affected staff member would be guaranteed a job offer at a facility within 67 miles.
That guarantee, speakers argued, does not take commutes into account and does not promise that workers will keep the shift that many have built their daily routines around.
Speaking with the Centre Daily Times after the public forum, Takac stopped short of saying whether he supported the proposal put forward by the Democratic governor’s administration. He said he’s still gathering information before reaching an opinion.
Two additional forums are scheduled. The next is set for Wednesday at the State College Municipal Building and the final forum is April 7 at the Snow Shoe Township Building. Each are scheduled for 5-6:30 p.m.
Residents can also voice their opinion by sending an email to RepTakac@pahouse.net or by calling 814-308-0569.
Each of Takac’s forums are separate from the DOC’s public hearing scheduled for 5-7 p.m. April 15 at the Bald Eagle Area Middle School and High School. That could be the only in-person opportunity for residents to voice their concerns to Shapiro’s administration.
Takac said Monday that he’s hoping to see a “show of force” from united community members at the hearing.
The public hearing for Quehanna Boot Camp is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. April 10 at the Karthaus Community Alliance Church, 34136 Frenchville Karthaus Highway, in Clearfield County.
Shapiro’s administration has pitched its proposal as a way to save the state tens of millions of dollars in the face of shrinking state prison populations, high vacancy and turnover rates among corrections officers and massive overtime payments.
Rockview is the second-oldest in the DOC system and the agency has said it would require $74 million in upgrades over the next five years if it were to remain open — the highest cost of any state prison.
The Pennsylvania Prison Society is generally supportive of the proposal, saying it could save money and keep Pennsylvanians safe if done properly. At more than a century old, the nonprofit said Rockview is in serious disrepair.
The proposal, however, is not without its critics.
Centre County’s commissioners sent a letter last month to the DOC’s top executive warning of “potential disaster.” They cast the proposal as shortsighted, said the estimated savings were likely illusory and are concerned it could wreak havoc on the workforce and region’s economy.
“In addition to employees and their families, there would be significant harm to the citizens and the economies of Centre, Clearfield, and Clinton counties resulting from these closures,” the commissioners said in the letter. “Ultimately, any savings at the state level are being taken from the local counties in the form of losses. We strongly urge you to reconsider your proposed course of action before a potential disaster occurs.”
State Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Cambia, said he opposes the recommendation and will work to “put an end to this ill-conceived notion.”
Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association President John Eckenrode, meanwhile, said the union that represents more than 10,000 workers would “vigorously fight against this misguided decision.” The organization scheduled a rally for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the state Capitol.
This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 9:47 AM.