+ INFORMATION FOR COLLEGE TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION COMMUNITY CORRECTION CENTERS At the July 19, 2016 Planning Commission Meeting it was my privilege to answer several questions regarding Community Corrections Centers in Pennsylvania. I have prepared this paper to further clarify some of the questions and concerns raised by Planning Commission Members. Before addressing issues relating to re-entry and Community Corrections Centers it is important to know that the person has credibility and knowledge of the subject. I have been actively involved in re-entry and Community Corrections Centers for over 8 years. Below are some of my credentials that give me the credibility and knowledge to address these subjects: Former employee Pennsylvania Department of Corrections at Johnstown Community Corrections Center. Graduate of Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Training Academy, 2015 Re-entry Employment Specialist Employee Keystone Correctional Services, Inc Member of Community Corrections Association of Pennsylvania Member of Centre County Criminal Justice Advisor Board (CJAB) Member of Centre County Re-Entry Coalition Co-chair of Pennsylvania Prison Society Community liaison for Inmates Helping Our Prison Environment (IHOP) at SCI Benner Township The following are some of the questions and concerns I remember being raised by Commission members. What criteria is used to determine if someone is eligible to go to a Community Corrections Center? First, the politically correct terminology for these individuals is returning citizen or reentrants. Locally, on a county level we refer to them as returning citizens. Returning citizens in Community Corrections Centers: Have met their minimum sentence date. Have met all their conditions of release as set by the Pa Department of Corrections and Parole (training, counseling, etc). Have met with the Parole Board who have decided that they are eligible for parole (release)
Why put a Community Corrections Center in this area? There are several reasons why a Community Corrections Center should be placed in our area. Geographically, there is not a Community Corrections Center located in our region. The closest Community Corrections Centers are located in Johnstown (83 miles away or 1 hour and 24 minutes) and Williamsport (62 miles away or 1 hour and 8 minutes). Overwhelming community support: County support, local judiciary support, faith community, Veterans Administration support, resident support from State College area and College Township residents Great resources: employment opportunities, training opportunities, faith community resources, public transportation, human service programming, Penn State University, South Hills School of Business, public transportation, Career Link Close to SCI Rockview and SCI Benner How much demand is there for a Community Corrections Center in our area? Census information from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections website shows that there is a need for a Community Corrections Center in the Center Region. Below is a chart that shows 2015 inmate release information by county. Some things to consider when looking at the chart. First, we do not want returning citizens to max out (column #3). This means that they simply walk out of prison with no parole supervision or accountability. Secondly, many of those paroled (column #4) are paroled to less than adequate home plans. When a Community Corrections Center is here, parole will have the option to send them to a Community Corrections Center rather than parole them to a less than desirable home plan. County Total released Maxed out Paroled Average age Centre 122 21 101 37 Clinton 55 13 42 36 Snyder 96 12 84 35 Mifflin 60 16 44 37 Huntingdon 60 16 44 37 Blair 223 50 173 36 Clearfield 187 28 159 35 Cameron 7 2 5 31 Union 73 10 63 35 REGION 883 168 715 35.4 STATE 19,998 3,178 16,820 36 You will notice that we have included all the counties that are surrounding Centre County as returning citizens from these counties would also benefit from a Community Corrections Center in our area. Also, these numbers reflect only returning citizens from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. A Community Corrections Center may also take returning citizens from county and federal jails/prisons. From a business perspective, we are confident that there is a need for a Community Corrections Center in our area. Otherwise, we would not be interested in opening a center here.
Who accredits and audits Community Corrections Centers? The question implies that there is concern (legitimate) that a facility of this type be of the highest quality to ensure community safety. Before addressing accreditation and audits I think that it is important to understand how an organization is awarded a contract to open a Community Corrections Center. 1. A Request for Proposal (RFP) is put out by the State. In this proposal, there are specific requirements and standards. This is a very competitive and extensive process. These requirements include: facility requirements, programming requirements, staffing requirements, insurance requirements, reporting guidelines, staff development guidelines, etc. 2. Before a RFP is granted, each of the requirements/standards has to be met. 3. One of the requirements in the RFP stipulates that a Community Corrections Center must be accredited with the American Corrections Center within a certain time frame. I will share more about this accreditation further in this paper. 4. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections conducts audits annually and visits Community Corrections Centers often throughout the year. 5. There are daily reports that must be submitted to the Pa Department of Corrections, so in a very real sense there is a daily supervision/oversight of each facility. 6. Pennsylvania Parole Agents visit Community Corrections Centers almost daily to meet with returning citizens under their supervision. Remember, all returning citizens in a Community Corrections Center are also under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Department of Parole. Accreditation: The American Corrections Association (ACA) is intended to improve facility operations through adherence to clear standards relevant to all area/operations of the facility, including safety, security, order, inmate care, programs, justice, and administration. The Standards and Accreditation department s staff facilitates the accreditation process from initial contact through assessment, contracting, preparation, the accreditation audit and lastly the appearance before the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections for a final accreditation decision. (Taken from ACA website) ACA standards are the national benchmark for the effective operation of correctional systems throughout the United States and are necessary to ensure that correctional facilities are operated professionally. They address services, programs and operations essential to good correctional management, including administrative and fiscal controls, staff training and development, physical plant, safety and emergency procedures, sanitation, food service, and rules and discipline. Standards reflect practical, up-to-date policies and procedures that safeguard the life, health and safety of staff and offenders. (Taken from ACA website) Please visit www.aca.org for more information of American Corrections Association. You can also check to see which correctional facilities are accredited. You will notice that Keystone Correctional Services, Inc is in fact accredited. Each facility has to go through the accreditation process which means our facility here will have to go through the accreditation process once open.
What zoning classification do other Community Corrections Centers have across the state? I researched this by calling many of the Community Corrections Centers listed on the Department of Corrections webpage. When I called each facility, many had no idea what zoning category they fell under. When this happened, I asked them to tell me who their neighbors were. This will give you a good picture of where other Community Corrections Centers are located. I did not call all of the Community Corrections Centers in the State. I did not call the Community Corrections Centers located in Philadelphia or all the Centers located in Pittsburg. I did call a good number from each region (Eastern, Central, and Western). I will leave you to come to your own conclusion(s) regarding the information on the chart. I found the following to be true from my research: There is not one zone used exclusively for Community Corrections Centers. Community Corrections Centers are located in every zone, to include: residential, commercial, business, and industrial. Many of the facilities are in the urban areas, downtown area. Most of the facilities are utilizing old structures: hospitals, schools, and businesses. It is hard to compare College Township zoning to that of zoning in Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Erie, etc. All Community Corrections Centers had certain characteristics in common: Access to public transportation Human services Faith communities Employment opportunities
Name Phone Location Zoning Classification Neighbors Harrisburg (State) 717-787-4427 Harrisburg Unknown Downtown Brewery Speedway Convenience Towing Company Wernersville (State) 610-621-1961 Harrisburg Unknown Located on State Hospital Grounds York (State) 717-771-4541 York Unknown Downtown Homes YMCA Rescue Mission Keystone Correctional Services, Inc 717-651-0340 Harrisburg Commercial Tractor Supply Offices Motel Capitol Pavilion 717-236-0132 Harrisburg Residential Conewago 717-533-428 Pottsville Residential Conewago 570-658-7383 Beavertown Gardenzia 717-238-5553 Harrisburg Unknown Front Street Houses Businesses Gardenzia 570-875-2287 Ashland Unknown Used to be State Hospital Transitional Living 570-326-7220 Williamsport Unknown Residences Next to Penn Tech Sheetz Erie 814-456-9112 Erie Unknown Downtown Next to Gannon Univ Hospital Bank Medical Offices Johnstown 814-533-2416 Johnstown Unknown Downtown Museum Federal Bldg Bank Florist Pittsburg 412-681-5204 Pittsburg Unknown Residences Business Riverside 412-761-1955 Pittsburg Industrial Fed Ex Exchange Electric Company Sharon 724-339-8400 Sharon Unknown Downtown Business Churches Plaza McDonalds Pizza Place Alle-Kisk Pavilion 724-339-8400 Westmoreland Unknown Old School Building Residences Businesses Gateway 814-825-0373 Erie Industrial Crossroads 814-459-4775 Erie Limited Residential Penn Pavilion 724-843-3212 Beaver Residential Renewal 412-697-1615 Pittsburg Downtown Convenience Stores CVS Rite Aid University Catholic Services 570-342-1296 Scranton Business Auto Parts Residential-Apartments CEC 610-872-0511 Chester Unknown Hospital Medical Offices Convenience Stores
What is the difference between a state run facility and a contract facility? In theory there is no difference between a state run facility and that of a contract facility. Both require ACA accreditation. Both require full time employees attend Department of Corrections Training Academy. Both house the same classification type of returning citizen. Both have the same overall mission/goal There are some differences though. State run facilities are union whereas contract facilities are not. Contract facilities have to perform (show positive results) or risk being shut down. We were asked to have a representative from the Department of Corrections come to a Planning Commission Meeting to give a presentation and answer questions. Unfortunately, the Department of Corrections will not honor our request. The reason, while very frustrating, is understandable. Because this is a business and very competitive, the Department of Corrections cannot come and show any kind of support or intervene on our behalf by meeting with any group. In conclusion, it is not a secret that we are hoping you will decide to put Community Corrections Centers in your Industrial Zoning District. There are many reasons why we believe this is the best decision, not the least of which is the building we are wanting to use is located in the Industrial Zoning District. There are other reasons that support this decision: The argument most hear when wanting to open a facility like ours is, Not in our backyard! In this case, the Industrial Zone and the building we are looking at specifically is not in anyone s backyard. There are no homes, apartments, schools, daycares, churches, or parks located in the immediate area. The Industrial Zone while isolated, is close to the needed infrastructure to ensure successful outcomes. Public transportation is available which ensures access to: employment opportunities, faith communities, Career Link, and other necessary human services.