Do inmate transfers mean Rockview, Quehanna will close? DOC responds

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration shot down speculation Tuesday that recent inmate transfers from Rockview state prison signal an impending closure, scuttlebutt that drew frustration from at least one of the county’s top elected officials.

A state Department of Corrections spokesperson told the Centre Daily Times that any transfers as of Tuesday are “part of routine Department business.” The agency regularly transfers inmates because of programming, housing, health care, security and more.

There were 1,936 inmates at the prison as of the end of June, down about 11% from February when the closure of Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp in neighboring Clearfield County were proposed.

When asked by a reporter about possible inmate transfers at Rockview, Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins acknowledged Tuesday that the board was aware of a similar rumor. He again advocated for the DOC to back off its proposal.

Commissioner Steve Dershem was more pointed when talking about a decision that was expected to be made by the end of May, but is still pending.

“We’ve been through this process now for months and months and months, and I think we deserve the transparency that matches the level of significance that this represents,” Dershem said. “I don’t think we should be hearing this from the side. We should be told what the plan is, and if indeed they are going to close it or they’re not going to close it, I think we need to know that.

“... I find it sad actually if this is being done in a surreptitious way where inmates are being moved out in preparation for something. Let us know. Be honest and straightforward with the public so we understand specifically what’s going on. I think we all would appreciate that.”

Centre County families and state lawmakers told the Centre Daily Times last month that weeks of silence from Shapiro’s administration have tested their patience.

The administration has pitched the proposal as a way to save tens of millions of dollars in the face of shrinking state prison populations, high vacancy and turnover rates among corrections officers and soaring overtime costs.

Rockview is the second-oldest of the nearly two dozen in the DOC system and the agency has said it would require $74 million in upgrades over the next five years — the highest cost of any state prison. Community members and elected officials have questioned those figures, and pointed to deeper local economic impacts.

Together, Rockview and Quehanna employ about 850 people. The state has said every affected staff member is guaranteed a job offer at their current pay and classification, though it has made no promises about shift assignments or transfer locations.

State Rep. Paul Takac, D-College Township, said in July that he believed the decision was probably being affected by the ongoing state budget impasse — one that entered its 42nd day Tuesday.

Shapiro said July 23 that the DOC was “working through the process” and the decision would be based on needs, facts and costs. During the same press conference nearly three weeks ago, he also said a decision would be made public “soon.”

If Shapiro’s administration follows through with the proposal, the facilities would not close immediately. State law requires that public safety facilities such as prisons close no sooner than four months from the announcement.

If the decision was announced Tuesday, the soonest the facilities could close is Dec. 12.