Prison Public Hearings Requested
By: Kevin Flanigan
Updated: January 10, 2013
CRESSON, CAMBRIA COUNTY - The surprise decision to close down two state prisons in Western Pennsylvania has some legislators calling for public hearings.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections announced on Wednesday that SCI Cresson and SCI Greensburg will be closing down by the end of June. Prisoners from those institutions will be transferred to other state prisons including the new SCI Benner in Centre County.
Because there was no public input into the decision, some legislators who represent the areas around the prisons now set to close are now calling for public hearings. State Representative Gary Haluska represents Northern Cambria County where SCI Cresson is located. He says the public hearings could shed some light on the process that has lead to the closing decision and would give people affected by the closings the chance to be heard
Lawmakers calling for the hearings want to hear from the Corbett Administration and the Department of Corrections on what led up to the move that they say will have significant economic consequences for their districts.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections announced on Wednesday that SCI Cresson and SCI Greensburg will be closing down by the end of June. Prisoners from those institutions will be transferred to other state prisons including the new SCI Benner in Centre County.
Because there was no public input into the decision, some legislators who represent the areas around the prisons now set to close are now calling for public hearings. State Representative Gary Haluska represents Northern Cambria County where SCI Cresson is located. He says the public hearings could shed some light on the process that has lead to the closing decision and would give people affected by the closings the chance to be heard
Lawmakers calling for the hearings want to hear from the Corbett Administration and the Department of Corrections on what led up to the move that they say will have significant economic consequences for their districts.
