SCI Mahanoy is a medium-security level male institution located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The facility sits on a 222-acre tract of land that was purchased in 1991. The facility opened in July 1993 and has since been providing correctional services to the state of Pennsylvania.
The institution has undergone several changes over the years. In 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) announced that three additional facilities, including SCI Mahanoy, would resume in-person visitation. The move was seen as a positive step towards normalizing operations after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the facility’s operations. In addition to in-person visitations, the facility offers inmate family transportation services to destinations such as Frackville, Coal Township, Rockview, Benner Township, Huntingdon, and Smithfield.
| Security | Medium |
| Capacity | 2,394 |
| Physical Address | 301 Grey Line Drive Frackville, PA 17931 |
| Mailing Address | Smart Communications/PADOC Inmate Name/Inmate Number Institution PO Box 33028 St Petersburg, FL 33733 |
| Can You Send a Gift? | No |
| Dress Code | Yes |
| Phone Number | (570) 773-2158 |
| Jurisdiction | State |
Overview of SCI Mahanoy
SCI Mahanoy is a state correctional institution located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. The facility was opened in 1993 and has a capacity of 2,394 inmates. The prison is a medium-security facility that houses adult male offenders.
The facility offers a range of programs and services to inmates, including education and vocational training, counseling, and substance abuse treatment. Inmates can also participate in religious services, recreational activities, and work assignments.
SCI Mahanoy has a commissary distribution center that serves nine institutions in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. The center employs 81 inmates and supplies a variety of items for the inmate population to purchase, including food, health and beauty products, clothing, footwear, and electronic items.
The prison has a parole office consisting of one supervisor, six parole agents, and two institutional parole assistants (IPAs). The IPAs prepare the files for the office and gather relevant information needed for the parole agents preparing to interview the inmates.
Overall, SCI Mahanoy is an important correctional facility in Pennsylvania that provides a range of programs and services to inmates to help them prepare for reentry into society.
History of SCI Mahanoy
SCI Mahanoy is a state prison located in Mahanoy Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The prison opened its doors in July 1993, as one of the five prototypical state prisons dedicated that year. The prison was built on a 222-acre tract of land and was designed to house medium-security level male inmates.
Opening of SCI Mahanoy
In 1993, when SCI Mahanoy was opened, it had a capacity of 1,000 inmates. The prison was accredited by the American Correctional Association in 1996, just three years after its opening. Since then, the prison has successfully achieved reaccreditation every three years. As of 2023, the inmate population at SCI Mahanoy is around 1,500.
Expansion and Programs
Over the years, SCI Mahanoy has undergone various expansions and upgrades. In 2011, the prison opened a new housing unit, which added 1,000 beds to the prison’s capacity. The prison has also introduced various programs to help inmates prepare for their release and reintegrate into society. These programs include Correctional Industries, which provides vocational training and work opportunities to inmates.
Overall, SCI Mahanoy has played an important role in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ efforts to provide secure and humane housing for the state’s inmate population. The prison’s commitment to accreditation and its various programs and expansions demonstrate its dedication to providing inmates with the tools they need to successfully re-enter society.
Inmate Classification and Capacity
SCI Mahanoy is a medium-security level male institution operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. The prison is located on Morea Road in Mahanoy Township, Schuylkill County. It has a capacity of 2,394 inmates.
The Pennsylvania State prison system has classifications that determine the level of security for each inmate. The system takes into account the nature of the crime committed, the length of the sentence, and the inmate’s behavior while incarcerated. SCI Mahanoy houses inmates who have been convicted of various crimes, ranging from drug offenses to violent crimes.
Inmate visits at SCI Mahanoy are regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Visitors must be on the inmate’s approved visiting list, and they must follow specific visiting rules. These rules include dress codes, restrictions on personal items, and limitations on physical contact.
The prison also provides various programs and services for incarcerated individuals. These programs include educational and vocational training, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment. Inmates can access some of these services online, while others require attendance in person.
Visitation and Contact Information
Visitation is an important part of an inmate’s life, and SCI Mahanoy allows for in-person visits with family members and approved visitors. Here is some information about visiting hours, the approved visiting list, locating SCI Mahanoy, and contact information.
Visiting Hours
All in-person visits must be scheduled online at least three days in advance. Visitors can schedule a visit by visiting the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections website at this link.
Approved Visiting List
To visit an inmate at SCI Mahanoy, visitors must be on the inmate’s approved visiting list. Inmates are allowed to have up to 10 approved visitors on their list. Visitors must submit an application to be added to the list. The application can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections website.
Locating SCI Mahanoy
SCI Mahanoy is located at 301 Morea Road, Frackville, PA 17932. Visitors can use the following directions to locate the facility:
- Take exit 124 off of Interstate 81
- Turn onto Route 61 South
- Turn left onto Route 54 East
- Turn right onto Morea Road
Contact Information
For general information about SCI Mahanoy, visitors can contact the facility at (570) 773-2158. For information about visiting an inmate, visitors can contact the Visitation Department at (570) 773-2158 ext. 8102. The Superintendent of SCI Mahanoy is Bernadette Mason.
Facilities and Operations
Housing Units
SCI Mahanoy is a state prison located in Frackville, Pennsylvania. It has a capacity of 2394 inmates and is comprised of five separate housing units. Each unit is designed to house a specific classification of inmates, ranging from minimum security to maximum security.
Distribution Center
Correctional Industries at SCI Mahanoy operates a regional commissary distribution center that serves nine institutions in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. The distribution center provides a variety of items for the inmate population to purchase, including food, health and beauty products, clothing, footwear, and electronic items.
Warehouse Operation
The warehouse operation at SCI Mahanoy is responsible for receiving and storing all of the goods that are sold through the commissary. The warehouse is staffed by a team of employees who are responsible for inventory management, order fulfillment, and shipping and receiving. The warehouse operation is an essential part of the commissary system, ensuring that all of the institutions that are served by SCI Mahanoy have access to the products they need.
Overall, SCI Mahanoy is a well-run facility that provides a safe and secure environment for its inmates. The housing units are designed to meet the needs of a diverse inmate population, while the distribution center and warehouse operation provide essential services to the institutions that rely on SCI Mahanoy for their commissary needs.
Education and Inmate Programs
SCI Mahanoy offers a wide range of educational and vocational programs to help inmates gain valuable skills and knowledge that can assist them with employment upon societal reentry. The prison also provides various inmate programs to help inmates develop life skills, improve their mental health, and reduce the likelihood of recidivism.
Academic Programs
SCI Mahanoy provides academic programs that include Adult Basic Education, General Equivalency Diploma (GED) preparation, adult literacy, and English as a Second Language. These programs help inmates improve their reading, writing, and math skills, and earn their high school diploma or GED.
Vocational Education Programs
SCI Mahanoy offers vocational education programs that include Life Skills, Applied Mathematics, Reading to Your Children, Auto Technology, Business Education, Warehouse Operation with OSHA Certification, Flagger’s Course, and more. These programs help inmates gain industry-recognized certifications and develop skills that can help them find employment upon release.
The prison also offers a 12-Chair Barber School that provides inmates with the skills and knowledge needed to become a barber.
Library
The Library at SCI Mahanoy provides collections of materials that meet the recreational, educational, and legal reference needs of the inmates. The library has a wide range of books, magazines, and newspapers, and also offers inter-library loans.
Inmate Programs
SCI Mahanoy offers various inmate programs that include video visitation, Family/Relationship Self, Inside Out Dads, Sex Offenders, Sex Offender Moderate-High Intensity, Offender Low Intensity, Special Needs Sex Offender Booster Program, Reentry Pre-Vocational Skills Class, Back on Track, Inside MoneySmart Program, Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Therapeutic Community, Parole Violator Outpatient Therapy Group, Dual Diagnosis, AA/NA/SOS Support Meetings, and Offense Related Thinking for a Change. These programs help inmates develop life skills, improve their mental health, and reduce the likelihood of recidivism.
The prison also offers Act 143 Victim Awareness and Batterer’s Intervention programs to help inmates understand the impact of their actions on their victims and take responsibility for their behavior.
Mental Health Programs
SCI Mahanoy offers a variety of mental health programs to its inmates. These programs are designed to help inmates manage their mental health and provide them with the necessary tools to cope with their emotions. The two sub-sections of this section are MH Education and MH Management.
MH Education
The MH Education program at SCI Mahanoy provides inmates with information on various mental health topics. The program covers topics such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Inmates are also taught coping skills and strategies to help them manage their mental health.
The MH Education program at SCI Mahanoy is facilitated by mental health professionals who are trained to work with inmates. The program is designed to be interactive and engaging, with inmates encouraged to ask questions and participate in discussions.
MH Management
The MH Management program at SCI Mahanoy is designed to provide inmates with individualized mental health treatment. Inmates are assessed by mental health professionals and provided with a treatment plan that is tailored to their specific needs.
The MH Management program at SCI Mahanoy offers a variety of treatment options, including individual therapy, group therapy, and medication management. Inmates are also provided with access to mental health resources, such as books and videos, to help them manage their mental health.
Overall, the mental health programs at SCI Mahanoy are designed to provide inmates with the necessary tools and resources to manage their mental health. These programs are an important part of the overall rehabilitation process and help to ensure that inmates are able to successfully reintegrate into society upon release.