Shapiro administration responds to concerns about proposed Rockview closure
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration pushed back Wednesday against public criticism of its proposal to close Rockview state prison and Quehanna Boot Camp, while also conceding some concerns raised during recent hearings were valid.
In its first public statement since a pair of those hearings last month, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections released the names of those who recommended the proposal and addressed some of the most frequently raised questions and concerns.
The lengthy response offered new insight ahead of the agency’s final decision, which is now expected by the end of May. Secretary Laurel R. Harry previously said the earliest her department anticipated making its decision was sometime next week.
Without naming him directly, the DOC refuted Republican state Rep. Dallas Kephart’s concern that the proposal is motivated by what he described as a potential “sweetheart deal” for Rockview’s vast property.
The DOC has no role in managing properties after prisons close. Any potential sale of the property would be handled by the Department of General Services, which serves as the state’s real estate arm. It is also part of the Shapiro administration.
Families who have carefully coordinated their schedules around child care, schooling and more have said a closure could upend their daily routines. The DOC has said all affected employees will be guaranteed a job offer at their existing pay and classification, but again made no promises about shift assignments. About 660 people are employed at Rockview and about 235 are employed at Quehanna.
In its latest response, the agency said staff will not lose seniority and that its goal is to “support all staff through the process of relocating to another work location if the closures occur.”
“However, depending on staff selections, all staff may not be accommodated at their new location with their current shift or post,” the DOC said. “This matter is subject to the provisions in the respective collective bargaining agreements.”
Much like it did during a state budget hearing in March, the department again said there would be only minimal savings with a partial closure. When 18 housing units were closed last year statewide, the DOC said it only about $7 million.
“Shutting down a facility is truly the only way you’re going to save costs,” deputy secretary for administration Chris Oppman testified in March.
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.
Republican state Sen. Cris Dush, who represents the eastern half of Centre County, joined families in expressing skepticism that some projects identified in the DOC’s proposal were previously completed. The agency acknowledged as much Wednesday, but did not say how many or how much they cost.
Still, the DOC said the “overall estimated capital needs of the facilities have not changed.” Eighteen projects were listed as an immediate need at a cost of $9.4 million. Most were for roofing.
The Pennsylvania Prison Society has been generally supportive of the proposal, saying it could save money and keep Pennsylvanian’s safe if done properly. In operation more than a century, the nonprofit has said the prison is in serious disrepair.
The DOC also brushed off concerns the proposed closures would cause overcrowding and increased violence, saying there is “no clear relationship between capacity rates and the increase in violence.” A closure would be expected to keep male capacity at less than 90% and female capacity at less than 80%.
In a statement Wednesday, Dush renewed the bipartisan call to keep the two facilities open.
“Now is the time for the DOC to officially hit the pause button on any pre-determined deals and completely reevaluate their specially targeted prison closing criteria which holds the fate of SCI Rockview, Quehanna Boot Camp, family-sustaining jobs for hundreds of rural citizens, and ultimately public safety, firmly in the crosshairs,” Dush said.
