Centre County to add contractor for jail outdoor‑recreation feasibility study after broad public support

The Centre County Board of Commissioners voted on Jan. 7 to add a contract with Transystems Corporation Consultants of Pennsylvania to next week’s consent agenda for a feasibility study on outdoor recreation at the Centre County Correctional Facility.

The study, which community advocates said the county has been pursuing for months, will examine options that include using existing indoor space, expanding current facilities or building traditional outdoor exercise yards. County staff said the contractor will provide recommendations, including potential staffing needs, and any expenditure from contingency funds up to the limits described in the county’s pending resolution would be reported back to the board.

Why it matters: Dozens of residents and advocacy organizations urged commissioners to approve a study and ultimately create outdoor recreation areas that provide direct sunlight and outdoor time for incarcerated people. Commenters said outdoor access is a health and legal issue and pressed for a yard that satisfies state requirements for outdoor recreation.

County corrections staff described the scope. Glenn Irwin said the study team will “look at all possibilities for recreation, whether that includes expanding what we currently have, or if that includes adding outdoor, traditional outdoor exercise areas,” and will include recommended staffing needs for any additions.

Public commenters pushed for outdoor yards and sunlight rather than partial measures. Ken Klein Smelser, who said he helped organize community outreach on the issue, asked commissioners to ensure the study delivers “some concrete at least designs and maybe some staffing plans so that it's not just pure feasibility, but some actual possibilities with some options.” Mark Fraley of the Pennsylvania Prison Society said, “The law says it's supposed we're supposed to have outdoor rec, so let's do the right thing.”

Formerly incarcerated resident Jenna Henry described her experience at the facility: “There is no direct sunlight, not through the windows … there were times that we would sit on the floor in the rack yard in the sun spots that would kind of come in, but you're not getting any actual direct sunlight.” Tyson Daniels of Central PA United told commissioners: “We really need outdoor recreation at our local jail. Please make it happen.”

County staff also said the study should identify personnel needs. Commissioners and staff acknowledged corrections staffing shortages and said any plan that adds outdoor yards would likely require hiring additional staff.

What the board did: A commissioner moved to add the contract with Transystems Corporation Consultants of Pennsylvania to next week’s consent agenda; another commissioner seconded the motion. The motion passed on a voice vote. The addition to the consent agenda schedules consideration of a contract; it does not by itself authorize spending or execution of the contract.

Next steps: The Transystems contract will appear on next week’s consent agenda for formal approval. County staff said the consultant’s recommendations will later return to the commissioners for action and that any county expenditures will be reported back at the next meeting when contingency funds are used.

Community context: Speakers included representatives of the Pennsylvania Prison Society and local advocacy groups, people with lived experience of incarceration, health-care advocates and local residents from across Centre County. Several commenters referenced legal requirements for outdoor recreation and described health consequences of limited daylight exposure.

Votes at this meeting: The board approved adding the Transystems contract to next week’s consent agenda; formal approval of the contract was not recorded at this meeting.