As closure nears, where are Rockview and Quehanna staff headed? Here’s a look
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Two-thirds of Rockview and Quehanna staff to heading to Benner and Houtzdale prisons.
- About 86% of 642 union staff will stay in Centre, Clearfield or Huntingdon counties.
- State cites cost savings and vacancy relief as closures proceed despite local pushback.
Pennsylvania’s prison agency has detailed where staff from Rockview state prison and Quehanna Boot Camp will be transferred after the facilities close, offering the first clear picture of how the shutdowns will affect employees statewide.
About 86% of the 642 union-represented staff will remain in Centre County or neighboring Clearfield and Huntingdon counties, according to data shared by the state Department of Corrections.
The largest concentrations of staff are slated for Benner Township state prison — Rockview’s next-door neighbor in Centre County — and Houtzdale state prison in Clearfield County, which together account for two-thirds of the transfers.
Benner is set to get 263 staff members and 161 are going to Houtzdale, according to the DOC. Smithfield will receive 69 staff, while its next-door neighbor Huntingdon will receive 61. Muncy would receive an additional 53.
No other state prison would receive more than nine staff members.
The DOC said all but five union-represented staff who were offered a position accepted placement. Four resigned or retired during the offer process and one rejected placement. The agency previously said 99% of staff received an offer at their first or second choice.
Benner Township, Houtzdale and Huntingdon state prisons have historically faced high corrections officer vacancy rates, which the DOC said may be partly because nearby facilities compete for the same candidates. About 18.5% of staff at Benner Township, Houtzdale, Huntingdon, Smithfield and Muncy are currently eligible for retirement.
Altogether, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration said reallocating staff could help fill anticipated vacancies and provide “much-needed relief.”
Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association President Mike Ohler told the Centre Daily Times he is “happy for my members.” He credited the state for attempting to alleviate as much stress on employees as possible.
Inmates have been transferred to each of the DOC’s remaining facilities that house men. As of Monday, 216 men remain incarcerated at Rockview —about 8.5% of the facility’s capacity — and none at Quehanna Boot Camp.
All inmates were transferred from Quehanna as of Wednesday.
Rockview and Quehanna are expected to cease operations by March 1. Boot camp services for men will be established at Houtzdale, while services for women will be established at Cambridge Springs state prison in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Shapiro’s administration has framed the closures as a cost-cutting measure to save tens of millions in taxpayer money, moving forward despite bipartisan pushback in Centre County.
No decision about the future of either the facilities or the land they sit on has been made, prompting state legislators to push for transparency in the process.
This story was originally published February 2, 2026 at 1:56 PM.