The State Correctional Institution – Coal Township, commonly referred to as ''SCI Coal Township'', is a

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PADOC) is the Pennsylvania state agency that is responsible for the confinement, care, and rehabilitation of approximately 37,000 inmates at state correctional facilities funded by the Commonwealth of ...

prison. Thomas McGinley is its superintendent. SCI Coal Township houses about 2,300 inmates.

History

The State Correctional Institution – Coal Township held its official Dedication on April 26, 1993. The construction of SCI Coal Township was part of Governor Casey's Operation Jump Start Program. This construction and expansion program was launched in 1990 to address the

prison overcrowding Prison overcrowding is a social phenomenon occurring when the demand for space in a prison exceeds the capacity for Prisoner, prisoners. By country Egypt Amnesty International reported on 25 January 2021 the abuse of prisoners in Egypt not onl ...

problem, to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. SCI Coal Township was one of five institutions constructed and financed through county or municipal authorities and one of five prototypical state prisons dedicated in 1993. The Northumberland County Authority was responsible to oversee the construction financing and to develop the lease with the option to buy for the Department of Corrections.

Sexual victimization at SCI Coal Township

According to a study by the

United States Department of Justice The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a United States federal executive departments, federal executive department of the U.S. government that oversees the domestic enforcement of Law of the Unite ...

released in August 2010, 3.9% of inmates who responded to a survey reported that they had been sexually victimized at the prison.

Facility makeup

At SCI Coal Township there are 226 acres of land, 43 inside of the perimeter. There are 34 operational structures at the facility, including 10 housing units consisting of both cells and dormitory-style housing. One of these units is a Special Needs Unit.

Capacity and demographics

According to the June 2015 Capacity Report issued by the DOC, the population was 2,271, this being 118 beds over capacity of 2,153, meaning that the facility is at 105-1/2 % Capacity. The average age of an inmate at Coal Township is 37 and the institution employs 526 full-time employees.

Inmate supports

At SCI Coal Township, there are a plethora of inmate supports available to them, including:

Academic and vocational education

The Academic complement at Coal Township includes Learning Support, Adult Basic Education, GED, Business Education, along with ESL. The Vocational Opportunities provided to inmates at SCI Coal Township include Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC), Barber, Computer-Aided Drafting/Design (CADD), Automotive, Custodial Maintenance NCCER, OSHA 10, Flaggers course. Furthermore, All vocational classes offer industry-recognized certifications specific to the trade skills taught in the program.

Inmate groups and programs

There are programs in the domains of Family/Relationship/Self, Sex Offender, Re-Entry, Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD), Offense Related, along with Mental Health Programs.

Outside opportunities for inmates, families and surrounding residents

* Virtual Visitation * Community Work Program: The Community Work Program had a total of 1623 hours of community work in 2012.

Notable inmates

* Bryan Freeman, convicted in the

Freeman family murders On February 26, 1995, Bryan and David Freeman murdered their parents, Brenda and Dennis, and their younger brother, Erik, at their family home with the help of their cousin, Ben Birdwell, in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. For s ...

Harrison Graham Harrison Frank "Marty" Graham (born September 9, 1959) is an American serial killer who murdered seven women in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between mid-1986 to mid-1987, keeping their remains in his apartment. In 1988, he was found guilty on al ...

, serial killer who murdered seven women * Harlow Cuadra, gay pornographic film actor convicted for the murder of gay pornographic film director Brian Kocis

References

External links

SCI Coal Township SitePA Dept of Corrections Web site
{{DEFAULTSORT:State Correctional Institution - Coal Township Buildings and structures in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania Coal Township 1993 establishments in Pennsylvania