For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1 - 9

industries such as a shoe shop, mattress
factory or garment factory. Huntingdon and
Dallas have significant industries.
*

There are 6 counts a day when each
inmate must return to their cell and await
completion of the count.

*

Everyone is assigned a counselor; some are
better than others. A unit manager is also
assigned, but these managers are usually exguards and not helpful.

*

All inmates are initially sent to Camp Hill for
classification. This can take several weeks or
months. The inmate will undergo a battery
of tests to determine what type of programs
the inmate will be recommended to take.
These tests, combined with criminal history,
will determine an inmate's plan.

their recommendation 95% of the time.
*

There are no minimum-security prisons in
Pennsylvania, only medium or maximum.
Even these classifications are deviated from
frequently because there are so many lifers
that they all cannot be in maximum facilities.
Oddly enough, the lifers tend to be some of
the more pleasant and stable persons as they
have a stake in keeping order, i.e., to reduce
thefts, fights, etc. Medium facilities are
certainly preferable.

*

The Pa. DOC has a policy that an inmate will
be sent far away from home and must earn
their way back to the facility nearest home.
However, this policy is rarely enforced in
practice. The central office in Mechanicsburg
makes all transfer decisions. As the Pa. DOC
must go before the General Assembly each
year for budget hearings, an inmate's local
state representative or senator may have
some influence with the Pa. DOC. There
are also specialty facilities, e.g., Pine Grove
for juveniles, Laurel Highlands for the ill
and elderly, Chester for drug and alcohol
programs, and Waymart for mental health
issues.

*

As to security - you should warn your client
that violence does occur, and they must
be vigilant. If an inmate appears wealthy,
extortion is possible. Gangs are prevalent.
Some religious organizations often operate
like gangs. If an inmate feels threatened,
s/he should file a grievance explaining the
issues. The Pa. DOC is supposed to give
each inmate security options depending on
the circumstances. Farmer v. Brennan, 511
U.S. 645 (1994) sets forth the legal criteria
for these situations. The law library should
have a copy and allow for basic research.
The prison must take "reasonable steps,"
once alerted to the safety concerns. An
inmate can ask to be separated from natural
enemies, e.g., co- defendants, rival gangs,
inmates of a different race or religion. If
the concern is validated, one inmate or the
other will be transferred to another facility.
Lesser concerns will result in each inmate
being given the option of self-protection or
administrative segregation. Ad Seg, as it is
called, will have the amenities of general

The inmate will undergo a
"battery
of tests to determine what

type of programs the inmate will be
recommended to take. These tests,
combined with criminal history,
will determine an inmate's plan.

"

*

A Prescriptive Program Plan [PPP] will be
developed to assist each inmate in meeting
Pa. DOC expectations. Each sentence is
usually a minimum as half of a maximum;
eligibility for parole will require the inmate
to follow the PPP after classification. PPP's
are partially based on elements of the
offense. For instance, inmates with drug
crimes will have to take drug treatment
programs; inmates with violence as a
component of their offense will be given
anger management; and, sex offenders
will be required to take the sex offender
courses. The latter is often applied to other
type crimes that have elements of sexual
misconduct in the crime. Impress on your
client the need to follow his PPP plan; a
recommendation to the Parole Board from
DOC is based on both following the plan and
keeping out of trouble with no misconduct
violations. The Parole Board usually accepts

Vol. 5, Issue 1 l For The Defense

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For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Vol. 5, Issue 1
