More can be done to manage the size of Pennsylvania’s prisons, including the zealous pursuit of sentencing alternatives. As of August 31, the Department of Corrections was housing 51,508 inmates in 27 state institutions 105.5 percent of capacity.
Building prisons will not solve the problem, although construction is under way in Pennsylvania. Construction is near completion at Benner Township near SCI Rockview and is under way at SCI Phoenix, two new facilities on the grounds of SCI Graterford.
