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Residents urge closure or investigation of Manhattan Valley Processing Center; commissioners point to recent inspections and audits
Summary
At a June 23 Clearfield County commissioners meeting, multiple residents accused the GEO-operated Manhattan Valley Processing Center of abuse and inadequate care; commissioners described recent unannounced site visits and cited federal and accreditation audits that they said found no deficiencies and pledged further review.
Dozens of residents urged Clearfield County commissioners on June 23 to cut ties with, investigate, or close the GEO-operated Manhattan Valley Processing Center (MVPC), alleging sexual abuse, medical neglect and deaths. Commenters urged immediate action and questioned whether escorted walkthroughs provide adequate oversight.
The claims spanned emotional personal testimony and documented allegations. Susan Williams, speaking as a local resident, said local staff deserve a presumption of fairness and warned against condemning hundreds of local employees "absent evidence," adding, "serious accusations deserve serious proof." Several other speakers pressed the board with harsher allegations: Josh Mlelock asked how the county could explain reported hangings, denied medical care and court-order violations; Brody cited lawsuits and alleged deaths at GEO-operated facilities; and an anonymous detained persons testimonial read by Michael McKenzie described "human rights violations" and said detainees were placed in solitary confinement and denied adequate medical treatment.
A number of commenters tied the controversy to local economic fallout. Heather Ashton said she and her family had spent tens of thousands of dollars outside Clearfield County because of the controversy and described neighborhood fear after learning a nearby resident reportedly worked at the facility.
Commissioners responded in the meeting without taking formal action to terminate the county's relationship. Commissioner Soil described a surprise visit earlier that morning, saying he was allowed into the kitchen and medical units, sampled the food and spoke briefly with staff and some detainees working in the kitchen. Another commissioner, expanding on Soil's remarks, said the county had reviewed recent oversight records and testing and described audits the board said found no violations: the transcript records that a June 26 audit by the DHS Office of Detention Oversight and a medical review by the ICE Health Services Corps (IHSC) produced "zero findings," and that an American Correctional Association inspection in November 2025 resulted in a 100% compliance score and a January 2026 recertification.
The board speaker provided operational figures as stated at the meeting: a reported population of 1,647 detainees (45 female) from 83 countries and an average stay of 39 days, and employment numbers presented in the meeting. The same speaker emphasized that ICE, not GEO, handles removals, transfers and court arrangements, and said county staff had independent water testing (Pennsylvania American Water, June 4, 2026) and medical intake screening protocols.
No vote to end the county's relationship with the facility occurred during the meeting. Commissioners said they would continue oversight and that at least two commissioners had visited the site; one commissioner said he planned an additional visit and did not announce the timing. Public commenters demanded formal investigations, more direct detainee interviews and community listening sessions; commissioners said some review work occurs outside public meetings but did not announce new formal investigative steps.
What happens next: commissioners to continue oversight visits and follow up on individual cases where concerns were raised. Members of the public said they will seek formal investigations and additional hearings if action is not taken.
