Pennsylvania Closes Its Second-Oldest Prison
In early March 2026, Pennsylvania closed Rockview state prison, the state’s second-oldest, which had been in operation for 111 years in Centre County. The proposal to close Rockview was first floated last February, and since then, all of the prisoners have been moved to other facilities. The administration of state Governor Josh Shapiro (D) pushed for Rockview’s closure, citing the state’s shrinking prison population and the millions that would be saved by shuttering the prison.
If Rockview had stayed open, the Centre Daily Times reported, it would have needed $74 million in repairs over the next five years. Built in 1915, the prison had crumbling walls, degraded pipes, mold, insect infestations, and pigeons nesting inside the facility. The cells were miniscule, with a total capacity of 2,544 prisoners spread out over a five-floor structure.
Alongside Rockview, Pennsylvania also announced the closing of the Quehanna Boot Camp in Clearfield County. The camp was created in the 1990s as a mixed-sex facility that operated military-style programs, pairing intense physical activity with vocational training and other services. Quehanna had struggled to maintain enrollment, with only 60% of its beds filled in its final year. Since 2004, six other prisons in Pennsylvania have been closed.
Source: Centre Daily Times
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