The Wolf Administration announced this morning that SCI-Pittsburgh would be the only prison closing, after earlier reports that two state prisons would close.
Governor Wolf said the decision was based on the declining prison population and the rising costs of running prisons. SCI-Pittsburgh, which sits on the Ohio River and was originally known as Western Penitentiary, dates back to 1826.
Representative Tedd Nesbit- who represents a portion of Butler and Mercer counties- praised the Wolf administration after learning that SCI Mercer, in Mercer County, would remain open.
“Today’s news is a welcome relief to the Mercer County community and to our region as a whole,” Rep. Nesbit said in a statement. “The reason to keep SCI Mercer is evident: It is a well-run, efficient and highly functioning facility that deserves to remain in our community. I am pleased that the governor and his administration realized that closing SCI Mercer would not have translated into the millions of dollars of savings needed.”
Rep. Nesbit went on to say…”I would like to thank all of our state and local officials for putting up a valiant and successful fight. In less than three weeks, our community mobilized in order to help save the prison and the 400-plus direct jobs and countless indirect jobs that would have been lost. Their efforts clearly demonstrate how strong we really are. I would also like to thank all of the members of the community – corrections officers, families of correction workers and so many more – for sharing their concerns and their stories with me. You all are the ones we fight for.”
Written By: Kayla Molczan for the Butler Radio Network
Photo by mikecogh
