On Feb. 12, Rockview SCI Superintendent Mark Garman and Corrections Superintendent Assistant Nikki Paul were joined by a few of Rockview's corrections officers and administrators to welcome nearly 50 participants of Leadership Centre County (LCC) for a tour of the prison.
The tour is part of the Centre County Criminal Justice Day which provides the opportunity for program participants to learn how the corrections system works not only in their community but across the Commonwealth and nation. The program is a result of Senator Jake Corman, Representative Kerry Benninghoff, Leadership Centre County and the DOC working together to educate local leaders about criminal justice issues.
The morning began in the visitor waiting room with Superintendent Garman and Thomas Kistler, a retired senior judge from the Centre County Court of Common Pleas, welcoming the participants. They explained the visitor check in process and procedures associated with inmate visitations. They also provided an overview of Rockview's 104-year history and the various services that are provided to inmates. In addition, they highlighted what the participants would see throughout their tour and provided some guidelines to ensure a safe and orderly visit.
Following orientation, participants were assigned to a smaller groups to begin their tour of the facility. After the experience of moving through the sally port, they entered a general population unit, the mental health unit, a special management unit and a therapeutic community unit to learn firsthand from the staff as to how services in each area are provided to the inmates.
One of the highlights was the opportunity to meet "Kugo" a three-year-old St. Bernard and his inmate trainer. The trainer provided an overview of the dog training program and the benefits it not only provides to the inmates but the dog's future owners. Kugo's trainer is a lifer who has been in the state prison system for 50 years. He talked about his experience in the corrections system and how the dog training program provides he and his housing block with a sense of purpose and hope for the future.
After seeing the operations of the SCI, the group gathered in the chapel where they discussed the areas they had toured. Judge Kistler provided a summary of court system in relation to sentencing guidelines and what they mean to an inmate.
An inmate peer support specialist discussed his personal experience of how he came to be an inmate of the DOC. He acknowledged that his alcohol addiction led him early in life to crime in order to support his habits. This resulted in his conviction and sentencing to five to seven years in the state's correctional system. He talked about how he initially resisted any therapeutic programming but after encouragement from SCI staff and some inmates, decided to try and change his life. He acknowledged that without the support of the prison's therapeutic team he probably would not be alive today. As a result of his experience, he joined the Peer Support Specialist Program in the hope of helping other inmates realize their potential to focus their lives on overcoming addiction. LCC participants had the opportunity to ask him some personal questions which touched on the challenges he faced along with his personal goals for when he has the opportunity to reenter society.
Corrections Secretary John Wetzel discussed how the DOC works in association with law enforcement and the courts and how Pennsylvania's sentencing laws differ from other states. He discussed how the county, state and federal corrections systems work, as well as the fact that corrections isn't there to punish offenders but to help to provide inmates with the skills and supports they will need when they have the opportunity to reenter society. LCC participants heard firsthand how DOC programming can positively impact inmates' lives. Special thanks was given to the SCI Rockview team for educating some of Centre County's leaders on how the criminal justice system works.
ABOUT LEADERSHIP CENTRE COUNTY (LCC)
Leadership Centre County runs a nine-month program that educates participants about the needs, available services, strengths, opportunities and current issues in the community. The overall goal is to increase the leadership pool within the county and to equip these future leaders with the tools and information necessary to meet the challenges of tomorrow. On Government Day the committee strives to expose class members to a myriad of topics and issues, adding to their knowledge about governance throughout our county and state. To learn more about LCC go to: http://leadershipcentrecounty.org