Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35) and Representative Dallas Kephart (R-73) have responded to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ plan to move the Motivational Boot Camp Program. The program will now operate at SCI Houtzdale for male offenders and SCI Cambridge Springs in Crawford County for female offenders.
Langerholc said, “Since the moment the closure was announced, I have continuously advocated for the Quehanna Boot Camp to remain operational. At a minimum, my advocacy will keep the program in Clearfield County. Under this transition, male offenders will report to SCI Houtzdale, and female offenders will report to SCI Cambridge Springs in Crawford County. This outcome would not have been possible without the partnership of Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, who from day one recognized the importance of the boot camp to our community. However, I remain extremely frustrated and disappointed that, despite bipartisan efforts in the Senate, the governor and secretary chose to override the clear support of legislators and the public and proceed with closing the Quehanna Boot Camp. This decision ignores the vital role Quehanna has played in our region for decades.”
Langerholc also noted ongoing legislative efforts: “Through legislation aimed at increasing the number of participants in this proven model, to multiple meetings with stakeholders and pressure on the administration, I fought to keep Quehanna in its birthplace. Despite data, statistics and well-reasoned logic, the administration chose to close the facility and turn their backs on rural Pennsylvania.”
Kephart added his perspective: “I remain deeply dissatisfied with the decision to close Quehanna Boot Camp, which has long demonstrated its effectiveness as a criminal justice center. That said, I am glad that the Boot Camp will remain in my district in Clearfield County. I strongly urge the Department of Corrections to provide current Boot Camp staff the option to transfer to SCI–Houtzdale should the staff choose to do so. These men and women have a proven record of success with the Boot Camp program, and their experience should not be lost.”
