Minimum, Medium, and Maximum Level Prisons In Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania, similar to a lot of other states in the USA, has an incarceration rate that goes higher in percentage than almost every democratic country in the world. As per PrisonPolicy.org's Correctional Control Report of 2018, almost 659 per 100,000 people in Pennsylvania are locked up in some sort of prison, jail, or immigration detention and a total of 96000 people are behind the bars.

Pennsylvania Department of Correction (PADOC) has the responsibility of confining, looking after, and rehabilitating almost 37000 prisoners in the different correctional facilities across the state. PADOC's headquarter is situated in Hampden Township, in Greater Harrisburg.

Inmates' Orientation at PADOC:

At the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, an institute called Diagnostics and Classification Center (DCC) begins with the orientation of the new inmates. The orientation program includes scheduling of interviews and tests which are required for the classification.

Moreover, the inmates are explained the Medical services available to them. These services include emergency care, vision, and dental needs. In addition to that, an inmate's prosthetic, personal hygiene, and sanitation is also taken care of by the department.

There are some other important services that an inmate has access to. Here's the list of remaining services that the inmates are informed about at orientation:

1. Religious and Recreational activities available.
2. Vocational and work opportunities.
3. Custody/Security of levels of the inmates and how they differ.
4. Family visits, calls, mails, and supplies of clothes etc.
5. Education.

Classification Process at PADOC:

After the orientation session for new inmates, DCC proceeds with the classification process which includes the following steps:

1. Within the first 48 hours at the reception centers, inmates are handed over the inmate handbook and a facility handbook that the inmates are required to sign. These handbooks are available in English, Spanish, and Braille.
2. After that, Medical clearance is conducted for all the candidates.
3. Following the DNA detection of the Sexual and Violent Offenders Act, all of the inmates are required to provide a sample which is taken at DCC. After that, this sample is sent to Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) for further analysis and profiling.
4. The inmates go through psychological testing.
5. All the inmates are scheduled for Tests of Basic Adult Education (TABE).
6. After that, the counselling staff is required to screen all the inmates through Risk Screen Tool (RST) to filter out the inmates who do not require further assessment.
7. The inmates who are not filtered out by the RST are required to be scheduled for the Self Administered Inmate Test (SAIT).
8. Furthermore, all the inmates who are not screened by RST are required to be screened for drug abuse by the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) staff.
9. After that, DCC sends the letters to families of inmates informing them about the admission of inmates. These letters include all the important information like different procedures at DCC and contact information etc.
10. Each inmate's classification process is required to be completed by 30 days of reception.

Facilities at PADOC and their Security Levels:

Here is the list of Prisons in Pennsylvania with important information like the security levels of offenders that they house, the inmate capacity, and the location.

Albion State Correctional Institution:

Located in Erie County Pennsylvania, Albion State Correctional Institution houses prisoners with medium and close custody male offenders. It has the capacity to house 2,272 inmates.

Benner Township State Correctional Institution:

Located in Belefonte Pennsylvania, Benner Township State Correctional Institution is a medium-security prison that houses 2,107 inmates. It was opened back in 2013.

Cambridge Springs State Correctional Institution:

A minimum-security prison, Cambridge Springs State Correctional Institution can house 1020 adult female inmates. This prison has 311 employees.

Camp Hill State Correctional Institution:

A reception and classification center for male inmates, Camp Hill Correctional Institution is responsible for taking in the offenders and doing their initial classification. The initial classification process includes taking fingerprints and having physical and mental examinations done. This initial process of classification helps authorities to house the prisoners in appropriate prisons according to the security level they get. This facility has the capacity to house 3,490 inmates.

Chester State Correctional Institution:

A medium-security correctional facility situated in Delaware County Pennsylvania. This facility has the capacity of housing 1,275 male inmates. This facility is specialized in treating male offenders who have problems like alcohol or drug addiction.

Coal Township State Correctional Institution:

Located in Northumberland County Pennsylvania, Coal Township State Correctional Institution is a medium-security prison that houses adult male offenders. It has the capacity to house 2,333 inmates and employs 525 people.

Dallas State Correctional Institution:

Located in Luzerne County Pennsylvania, Dallas State Correctional Institution is a medium-security prison that houses adult male offenders. It has the capacity to house 2,150 inmates. A good number of inmates here are serving life sentences and have no chances of parole.

Fayette State Correctional Institution:

Located in LaBelle Pennsylvania, Fayette State Correctional Institution is a maximum-security prison. It has the capacity to house 2054inmates.

Forest State Correctional Institution:

Located in Marienville Pennsylvania, Forest State Correctional Institution is a maximum-security prison that houses adult male offenders. It has the capacity to house 2,290 inmates.

Frackville State Correctional Institution:

A maximum-security prison that houses 1,192 male offenders. Frackville State Correctional Institution is situated on 174 acres, out of which, 35 acres is a prison facility which is protected by razor wires.

Graterford State Correctional Institution:

Located in Graterford Pennsylvania, Graterford State Correctional Institution is a maximum-security prison that houses adult male offenders. It has the capacity to house 3,420 inmates.

Greene State Correctional Institution:

Located in Waynesburg Pennsylvania, Greene State Correctional Institution is a maximum-security prison that houses prisoners who are on death row. It has the capacity to house 1,760 inmates.

Houtzdale State Correctional Institution:

A medium-security level prison, Houtzdale State Correctional Institution houses 2550 male inmates. Here, the offenders are kept in open dormitories and multi-occupancy cells.

Huntington State Correctional Institution:

A close-custody prison in Pennsylvania, Huntington State Correctional Institution house almost 2,100 inmates. It was opened back in 1889.

Laurel Highlands State Correctional Institution:

Located in Somerset Pennsylvania, Laurel Highlands State Correctional Institution is a minimum-security prison that houses adult male offenders. It has the capacity to house 1550 male inmates.

Mahanoy State Correctional Institution:

Located in Frackville Pennsylvania, Mahanoy State Correctional Institution is a medium-security prison that houses adult male offenders. It has the capacity to house 2,490 male inmates.

Mercer State Correctional Institution:

Located in Mercer Pennsylvania, Mercer State Correctional Institution is a minimum-security prison that houses adult male offenders. It has the capacity to house 1500 male inmates.

Muncy State Correctional Institution:

Muncy State Correctional Institution is a medium/maximum-security prison that houses female offenders. It has the capacity to house 1450 male inmates.

Pine Grove State Correctional Institution:

Located in Indiana Pennsylvania, Pine Grove State Correctional Institution houses young adult offenders. It has the capacity to house 1100 male inmates.

Pittsburgh State Correctional Institution:

Located in Allegheny County Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh State Correctional Institution is a mixed custody prison that houses adult male offenders with medium to minimum security. It has the capacity to house 1950 male inmates.

Quehanna Motivational Boot Camp:

A boot camp with minimum security, Quehanna Motivational Boot Camp houses 504 inmates.

Retreat State Correctional Institution:

Located in Hunlock Creek Pennsylvania, Retreat State Correctional Institution is a medium-security prison that houses adult male offenders. It has the capacity to house 1120 male inmates.

Rockview State Correctional Institution:

Located in Bellefonte Pennsylvania, Rockview State Correctional Institution is a medium-security prison that houses adult male offenders. It has the capacity to house 2,406 male inmates.

Smithfield State Correctional Institution:

Located in Huntingdon Pennsylvania, Smithfield State Correctional Institution is a closed custody prison that houses adult male offenders. It has the capacity to house 1380 male inmates.

Somerset State Correctional Institution:

Somerset State Correctional Institution is a medium-security prison that houses adult male offenders. It has the capacity to house 2365 male inmates.

Waymart State Correctional Institution:

Waymart State Correctional Institution is a medium-security prison that houses adult male offenders. It has the capacity to house 1425 male inmates.

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