SCI Mahanoy

Superintendent:  Bernadette Mason

Deputy Superintendent for Centralized Services:  Lori White

Deputy Superintendent for Centralized Services: Laura Banta

Deputy Superintendent for Facilities Management:  Charles Stetler

Business Manager: Jason Senese

Superintendent's Assistant:  Jennifer Mahally

The State Correctional Institution at Mahanoy opened in July 1993 as a medium-security level male institution.  The 222-acre tract of land upon which SCI Mahanoy sits was purchased in 1991 from two separate owners, J.M.B. Limited and Eileen M. DiCasimirro, for the expressed purpose of building a 1,000-bed medium security institution of prototypical design.  The property was purchased by the Schuylkill County Redevelopment Authority for the price of $896,273.  Over the period from August 1991 through April 1993, the institution was constructed at a cost of $83,500,000.  Through a unique lease/purchase agreement, the institution was owned and leased by Schuylkill County to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the exclusive use of the Department of Corrections.  SCI Mahanoy opened in July 1993 as a medium-security level male institution.  This prison is one of five prototypical state prisons dedicated in 1993.

SCI Mahanoy was accredited by the American Correctional Association in 1996 and has successfully achieved reaccreditation every three years since that time.

Number of Acres Inside Perimeter: 67

Number of Acres Outside Perimeter: 222

Number of Operational Structures (inside and outside of perimeter): 35

Number of Housing Units: 11

Housing units consist of both cells and dormitory-style housing.

Special Features: Two Special Needs Units

Inmate Information:

Inmate population: Current Inmate Population

Inmate Average Age: 38.08

Total Number of Full-Time Employees: 581

Academic and Vocational Education:

Academic Programs Include: Adult Basic Education, General Equivalency Diploma (GED) Preparation, Adult Literacy, English as a Second Language, Life Skills, Applied Mathematics, Reading to your Children, and Act 143.

Vocational Education Programs are available:  Auto Technology, Business Education, Warehouse Operation with OSHA Certification and a Flagger's Course.  Each of the above vocational programs offer certifications that are industry recognized and can assist inmates with employment upon societal reentry.  In addition, SCI Mahanoy offers a 12-Chair Barber School.

The Library provides collections of materials which meet the recreational, educational, and legal reference needs of the inmates.   Inmates also have access to Inter-Library Loans.

Inmate Programs:

• Family/Relationship Self
• Inside Out Dads

Sex Offenders

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

Reentry

• Pre-Vocational Skills Class
• Back on Track Inside
• MoneySmart Program

Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD)

• Therapeutic Community
• Parole Violator
• Outpatient Therapy Group
• Dual Diagnosis
• AA/NA/SOS Support Meetings

Offense Related

• Thinking for a Change
• Act 143 Victim Awareness
• Violence Prevention
• Batterer's Intervention

Mental Health Programs

• MH Education
• MH Management

Video Visitation:

The program uses video conferencing technology to enhance parenting skills; allows an inmate to visit with immediate family members, caregivers of the inmate's children, and other individuals on the inmate's approved visiting list; increases the frequency of visits for an inmate and permits the scheduling of visits at times that are best for the visitors.  Every inmate in general population status, regardless of his custody level, is eligible.  Inmates housed in administrative and disciplinary custody are not permitted to participate in the video visitation program.

Correctional Industries:

Correctional Industries at SCI Mahanoy is a regional commissary distribution center serving nine institutions in the eastern part of Pennsylvania.  We supply a variety of items for the inmate population to purchase.  They include food, health and beauty, clothing, footwear, and electronic items.  SCI Mahanoy's CI current employs 90 inmates on one shift.