1/24/17
by News Department on 01/24/17Hearing on prisons...
State senators were among those saying the decision by the state Department of Corrections announced earlier this month about possible prison closures came too fast.
According to the Republican Herald, three Senate committees, the Senate majority, democratic policy and Senate judiciary committee, held the hearing Monday morning.
State Sen. David Argall, R-29, was the chairman for the hearing and said, to his knowledge, as of Monday, no additional hearings are planned.
Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said previously that the department must make “significant reductions because of the dire budget forecast, with a prison closure being the most significant reduction that can be made.
Wetzel testified at the hearing stating that the decision to close prisons is not one taken without careful consideration.
Governor Wolf said the state can safely close two prisons because there are fewer inmates around the state. He also stated that prison workers affected by the closures will be offered jobs at other state prisons.
State prisons in Luzerne, Wayne, and Schuylkill Counties are among those that could be closed.
The decision on which two prisons will will come Thursday.
