Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

Congratulations to Lt. Brian Smith on being named Bureau of Community Corrections Employee of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2025! Lt. Smith serves in the Management Operations Center where he is always willing to help any and all employees across all agencies and contract sites. He keeps a positive attitude—which is infectious among his peers. Thank you for your service and keep up the great work, Lt. Smith! #PADOCProud

SCI Greene’s Empowerment Committee hosted its second annual Spring Basket Raffle in conjunction with a Humane Society of Greene County donation drive. Employees could receive five raffle tickets for a donation to the Humane Society, as well as purchase even more tickets to try to win some great prizes. The funds raised will be used to buy gift cards for staff giveaways in the near future.

Last week, employees throughout the Department of Corrections supported our good friends in the Office of Victim Advocate and National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by participating in the Color Me Aware campaign. Each day, employees were encouraged to dress up in the following colors: ⚪️ Monday: White for Gun Violence Awareness 🔵 Tuesday: Blue for DV, SA, and Stalking Awareness 🟡 Wednesday: Yellow for Child Abuse Awareness 🟢 Thursday: Green for Human Trafficking Awareness 🟠 Friday: Orange for Elder Abuse Awareness Check out these pics of DOC staff members supporting NCVRW across Pennsylvania including SCI Cambridge Springs, SCI Huntingdon, SCI Waymart and Central Office!

We currently have three openings for Corrections Utility Plant Operators to supervise inmates and maintain proper security while ensuring work is performed under safe operating procedures for boiler operations. If you have the knowledge and skills to help ensure the safe operation of an institution utility plan and want to receive great Commonwealth benefits, apply to join our team today!    SCI Forest ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eU4V9MyZ SCI Greene ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/een4RWh2 SCI Fayette ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eWUR9NUV

SCI Dallas recognized a pair of longtime employees who recently retired with a Department of Corrections flag. Mailroom Supervisor Giselle Malet retired after 25 years of service, and Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist Supervisor Pam McDonald retired after 20. Thank you to both for your service and best of luck in retirement!

SCI Waymart celebrated two milestone retirements recently as Captain John Hidalgo and Captain James Lawler retired from DOC service. Captain Hidalgo served for 26 years at the Training Academy, Central Office, and SCIs Graterford, Forest, Pittsburgh, and Waymart. He began as a corrections officer trainee and retired as a shift commander. He was also a special projects manager and critical incident manager and served on the Hostage Negotiation Team. Captain Lawler served all 24 years at SCI Waymart. He also began as a corrections officer trainee and worked his way up to shift commander. Congratulations and thank you both for your years of service! 

At the request of SCI Muncy, the DOC Reentry Simulation Team hosted a pair of simulations last month for employees at the facility. More than 80 staff members participated between the two sessions, including from administration, education, parole, and psychology. It was a very successful event and received positive feedback from participants who simulated what reentrants can experience during their first month of reentry. Special thank you to our wonderful Reentry Simulation Team members who host these events year-round across Pennsylvania! #SecondChanceMonth #ReentryMatters

Representatives from the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Erie Vet Center visited SCI Cambridge Springs last month to meet with veteran employees. The Vet Center van was set up in front of Building 1 to allow staff convenient access to services. Additionally, a table was set up in the Staff Wellness Center during the lunch hour to provide Veteran Service Outreach to employees during their work shift inside the facility. Their visit was well-attended, and the facility staff took advantage of having these services available at the front door as they stopped by to gather information and ask questions. Superintendent Lisa Graves said, “I have a sincere respect for our veteran staff and the sacrifices they have made. Providing services such as the Vet Center van is just one small way of letting our vets know that we honor, support, and salute them for their resiliency, loyalty, and dedication.” 📸: Tony Reitz, Erie Vet Center Veteran Outreach Program Specialist; Tom Bleem, Cambridge Springs Unit Manager; Robert Graves, SCI Mercer Veterans Service Unit Manager; and Alexis Vogan, Mercer VSU Social Worker

SCI Coal Township Barber Instructor Amanda Lynch was recognized by the Bureau of Reentry Coordination team for her instrumental work in coordinating the barber practical testing and oversight for 25 students at SCI Camp Hill in 2024. Camp Hill was without a barber instructor, so Lynch would travel from Coal Township to ensure students could take their test—and in doing so she ensured 25 students earned their barber or barber teacher's license! 📸: Division of Correction Education Chief Terri Fazio, DCE Curriculum Coordinator Mike Gent, Barber Instructor Amanda Lynch, Principal William Callahan and Bureau of Reentry Coordination Director Danny McIntyre

SCI Greene’s Honor Guard held a fundraiser offering roasted chicken dinners to all facility staff, including those on the 2-10 and 10-6 shifts. This quarterly event was the most successful to date with 199 chickens, a variety of sides, and dessert prepared by the Honor Guard. The team donated $500 from the funds raised to the Corner Cupboard—a food bank in Greene County providing food to those in need for more than 30 years. The remaining funds are saved for future fundraisers, used to donate flowers/memorial blankets for staff funeral services, and other team costs not covered by the department.