8.1: Introduction

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The intent of this examination is to provide a comprehensive review of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Correction System (DOCS). This analysis includes a review and presentation of correctional facilities within Pennsylvania which are identified as State Correctional Institutions (SCI). The contents of this review addressed special populations, minority representation, death row inmates and executions, and special populations. Further attention is provided to newly created programs designed to curtail over-crowding and rising costs of incarceration as well as misgivings within the system was explored and recommendations for the future is provided.

This analysis included a review and a comparison of the U.S. Census Bureau aggregate population statistics for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that offers a breakdown by ethnic status in relation to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOCS) inmate population. The discussion embraced minority status and disparity concerns relative to inmate sentencing of those minorities.

This evaluation focused on a brief summary of the due process guarantees of the First, Fourth, and Eighth Amendments, with a discussion of the Fourteenth Amendment in its overarching application. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOCS) policy purpose resulting from the application of these amendments toward prisoners was explored.

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Overview

According to Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Annual Report (2011), DOCS operates 28 SCI’s that consists of 24 male facilities; 2 female facilities; 1 young adult offender facility (YAOF); and 1 co-ed boot camp. This is further divided into 5 maximum SCI’s for adult males and 1 maximum security facility young adult offenders; 1SCI is designated for diagnostic and classification of prisoners; 2 substance abuse treatment SCI’s; 1 geriatric; and 1 forensic treatment SCI for the mentally ill (Appendices E-Intuitions/Designation). As of December of 2010 the DOCS housed 51,321 inmates (Appendices A-Population, Gender/Race/Age) of which 335 inmates are incarcerated for life. The annual budget request for FY 2011-2012 is $1,880,810,000 representing an 11% increase over the previous budget of $1,694,319,000. The inmate population has steadily increased 25% over the last seven years with FY 2004 population of 40,965 and FY 2010 inmate population of 51,321. The DOCS have incorporated innovative front end diversionary programs and alternative programs to offset the rising costs of incarceration and overcrowding of SCI (Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Annual Report, 2011).

Authorization

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections receives their authority from the Pennsylvania Code Title 61 - PRISONS AND PAROLE and Chapter 95 COUNTY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. The previously discussed revisions regarding reduced sentencing will be found in these sections as amended.