Commissioners press for transparency after reports inmates moving from Rockview; urge Department of Corrections to keep facilities open

Centre County commissioners on Aug. 7 addressed reports and rumors that inmates are being moved out of the state correctional facility at Rockview and said they have urged the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) for clarity.

Commissioner Tim (identified in the meeting transcript as asking the question) said he had discussed the matter with Representative Benninghoff and that he had heard inmates were being moved. "I just wanted to see, like, have you heard of that at all?" the commissioner asked.

A county official said the board had heard similar rumors and urged the DOC to keep both facilities open where possible. "Obviously, if there's some sort of compromise and we keep at least one facility open or a part of the facility open, we're willing to take what we can get," the chair said, adding that the board wants transparency from the Department of Corrections.

Commissioner Dersham said the community and families affected by operations at Rockview "deserve the transparency the level of significance that this represents," and added that families and businesses impacted need to know whether a closure or reduction is planned. "I don't think we should be hearing this from the side," he said, urging the DOC to be "honest and straightforward with the public so we understand specifically what's going on." The commissioners said they would continue to press state officials for direct communication.

No formal action or vote on the matter was recorded; the exchange occurred during the meeting's announcements and questions from the press. The commissioners characterized the concern as ongoing and requested clearer, direct information from the state DOC about the status of the Rockview facility and any inmate transfers.