SCI Benner Township

Superintendent: Morris Houser

Deputy Superintendent for Centralized Services: Bradley Booher

Deputy Superintendent for Facility Management: Curtis Grice

Business Manager:  Adam Beck

Superintendent Assistant:  Holly Quist

Facility Information

Authorized under Act No. 41 2008, SCI Benner Township’s construction began in late 2010. The $200 million state-of-the-art facility was officially dedicated by Governor Tom Corbett on April 1, 2013. SCI Benner Township is a medium-security facility that houses adult male inmates.

Physical Plant

Number of Acres Inside Perimeter: 46

Number of Acres Outside Perimeter: 42

Number of Operational Structures (inside and outside of perimeter): 26

Number of Housing Units: 10 (Housing units consist of both cells and dormitory-style housing).

Special Features: SNU, RHU, DTU and RTU. SCI Benner Township is designated as a Mental Health Stability Code D Facility

Employees

The facility has 633 full-time employees.

Inmate Information

• Inmate Population: Current Population Report
• Inmate Average Age:
• Ages 18 to 29=530 Ages 30 to 39 =633 Ages 40 to 49 =432 and 50 and above =429
• Total Number of Inmates Employed: 1,395
• Stability Code D Roster Inmates: 319
• Inmates Enrolled in Academic Education: 160
• Inmates Enrolled in Vocational Education: 81
• Average Daily Housing Cost Per Inmate: $96.54

Academic and Vocational Education

• Academic Programs
• Adult Basic Education/General Education Development
• Pre-Vocational
• Money Smart
• Read To Your Children
• Post-Secondary Education/Correspondence Classes
• Vocational Education
• Custodial Maintenance
• Plumbing
• Electricity
• Carpentry
• Business Education
• Barber Shop
• Additional Education Services
• General and Law Library
• Plumbing, Electricity and Carpentry are provided certificates through NCCER/CORE. Inmates that complete the Barber Shop Program, receive a license.

Inmate Programs

• Family/Relationship/Self
• Sex Offender
• Reentry
• Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD)
• Offense Related
• Mental Health

Medical Care

The Medical Department provides all medical and mental health services to the inmate population. SCI Benner Township is equipped with a 19 bed infirmary that provides sub-acute hospital care with daily physician’s rounds. A four bed Psychiatric Observation Unit is available for use for inmates in need of crisis intervention or suicide intervention. A complete range of dental services is available including dental prosthetics.

Religious Services

SCI Benner Township provides weekly Catholic, Islamic, Jehovah’s Witness, Jewish, Native American and Protestant Services. In addition to these services the appropriate feasts and fasts of each faith are provided at the appointed times. The Religious Department oversees and coordinates the institution’s volunteer services.

Activities Department

SCI Benner Township provides an array of structured activities as well as pre-scheduled non-structured recreation periods. Structured activity is provided in the indoor gymnasium as well as the main yard area, weather permitting. Programs include intramural basketball, volleyball, flag football, small games, board games, cardio-vascular fitness programs, weight training programs and circuit training programs. Specialized programming is provided for the Special Needs Unit and for men in the age range of 40-50 years of age.

Correctional Industries

The SCI Benner Township laundry, under the management of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Correctional Industries employs approximately 116 inmate laundry workers and is responsible for providing complete laundry services for the following customers:

• Hollidaysburg Veterans Home
• Quehanna Boot Camp
• SCI Albion
• SCI Benner Township
• SCI Camp Hill
• SCI Cambridge Springs
• SCI Coal Township
• SCI Forest
• SCI Houtzdale
• SCI Huntingdon
• SCI Mercer
• SCI Muncy
• SCI Rockview
• SCI Smithfield
• The Penn Stater (University)
• Polk State Hospital
• Warren State Hospital (DPW)

Transportation Hub

SCI Benner Township operates the Centralized Transportation HUB for the Department of Corrections. All inmate transfers are coordinated through the Office of Population Management.

Driving Directions

FROM HARRISBURG: Take Route 22/322 west to Lewistown. Take Route 322 west and follow Route 322 to the State College junction with Route 26. Follow Route 26 North. You will come to a “Y” where Route 150 (Benner Pike) branches off from Route 26. Bear to the left at the “Y” and take Route 150 approximately three miles. At the traffic light at "Rockview Road," turn right. Follow Rockview Road to "Institution Drive," which will be on your left. DO NOT GO STRAIGHT, because that is SCI Rockview. Please do not cut through SCI Rockview property.

FROM WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON: take I-81 South to I-80 West. Take I-80 Exit 161 (formerly Exit 24). Continue on 220 South (this is also Route 26 South, for about 3 miles) and take the SECOND Bellefonte Exit (78A), which is approximately 6 miles. After the exit you will be headed on Route 150 South (Benner Pike). At the next traffic light, at "Rockview Road," turn left. The entrance to the prison will be on your left on "Institution Drive." DO NOT GO STRAIGHT, because that is SCI Rockview. Please do not cut through SCI Rockview property.