15-05-2025
Kephart's amendment could've kept Rockview, Quehanna open for 10 years, vote falls short
CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — For several months, officials have been trying to save Quehanna Boot Camp and SCI Rockview from the potential closure by the Department of Corrections (DOC).
On March 13, State Representatives Dallas Kephart & Stephanie Borowicz attempted to amend House Bill 561. House Bill 561 is a bill for drug treatment programs in jails across the Commonwealth. Kephart's amendment would expand those programs into Quehanna Boot Camp and SCI Rockview, and furthermore, could keep the prisons open.
'Tucked into the amendment was it would keep Quehanna and Rockview open. So, essentially, it would save our prisons back home and keep them open for a minimum of ten years,' Kephart said.
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The amendments were ruled out of order, and with a 102-101 vote, the amendments were blocked. Kephart said he is unsure of why many don't want to save prisons. He mentioned how the state is still paying for several facilities that have closed in he past. The DOC also says that Quehanna has produced the most GEDs for the last five years. Not only will this impact prisoners, but also the surrounding communities.
'Because at the end of the day, this is our area, this is our jobs, this is our facilities. The Quehanna Boot Camp, again, is a proven effective criminal justice center. Why we don't want to save that, I don't know,' Kephart said.
Kephart noted that he will continue fighting for the boot camp until the very end.
'I'm going to remain committed to fighting for this boot camp until the day I can't. So if, when they close it and they ship everybody out, I guess that would be the day that, you know, it's over. But until that point, I'm going to remain committed,' Kephart said.
He says he has had communication with the DOC, and this week is the first week the final report could come out. Kephart says that his understanding is that there would be a final recommendation in which then it has to be acted on.
Kephart has no timetable for when this could happen; he says it could happen at any time.
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