SCI Laurel Highlands

SCI Laurel Highlands Video Visitation Tips

Superintendent:  Melissa Hainsworth

Deputy Superintendent for Centralized Services: Melanie Pyle

Deputy Superintendent for Facilities Management: Ben Grove

Business Manager:  Gina Martini

Superintendent's Assistant:  Donna Platt

The State Correctional Institution at Laurel Highlands is located in Somerset County, in Somerset Township, along Route 31, approximately one mile from the Borough of Somerset.  The facility opened July 1, 1996, as a security level 2 facility for adult male inmates.  The facility occupies the former Somerset State Hospital property which was owned by the Department of Public Welfare, and which officially closed June 1996.  The property was transferred from the Department of Public Welfare to the Department of Corrections on July 1, 1996.  SCI Laurel Highlands serves as the Commonwealth's provider to inmates with special needs; namely, long-term care, personal care, wheelchair, dialysis and geriatric inmates, as well as general population inmates.

SCI Laurel Highlands was accredited by the American Correctional Association in 2003 and has successfully achieved reaccreditation every 3 years since that time.

Number of Acres Inside Perimeter:  52
Number of Acres Outside Perimeter: 81
Number of Operational Structures (inside and outside of perimeter):  35
Number of Housing Units:  9
Housing units consist of both cells and dormitory-style housing.
 Special Features:  Medical facilities and dialysis for male inmates.

Inmate Information:

Inmate Population: Current Population Report
Inmate Average Age:  42.29

Total Number of Full-Time Employees:  599

Academic and Vocational Education:

• Academic Education through GED level
• Vocational Education:  Business Education, Custodial Maintenance, Electronics Repair

All vocational classes offer industry-recognized certifications specific to the trade skills taught in the program.

Inmate Programs:

Family/Relationship Self

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Reading to your Children

• Sex Offender Moderate-High Intensity
• Offender Low Intensity
• Special Needs Sex Offender Booster Program

Re-Entry

• Pre-Vocational Skills Class
• Inside/Out Dads
• MoneySmart Program
• Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD)
• Therapeutic Community
• Outpatient Therapy Group
• Dual Diagnosis
• AA/NA/SOS/SMART Support Meetings

Offense Related

• Thinking for a Change
• Act 143 Victim Awareness
• Violence Prevention
• Batterer’s Intervention
• Long Term Offenders

Mental Health Programs  

• Dual Diagnosis Group

Community Work Program: The Community Work Program had a total of 5,731 hours of community work in 2012-2013 for a savings to many local organizations.

CWP projects included painting, cleaning, landscaping, cutting trees and brush, street work, poured concrete and set  tombstones, cleaning and detailing fire trucks, and relocation of an office.
Locations include:

• Somerset Historical Center
• Somerset County Fairgrounds
• New Centerville Fire Department
• Springs Festival
• Meyersdale Fire Department
• Rockwood Boro
• Somerset Boro
• Boys & Girls Club of Somerset
• Somerset Community Outreach Center
• Somerset County Parks and Recreation
• Salisbury Fire Department
• Stoystown Lions Club
• Benscreek Lutheran Church
• Somerset Christian Fellowship
• Berlin Cemetary Association