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DUI defendant called ‘a clear and present danger’ sentenced

<p>NANTICOKE &#8212; The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections is holding a public hearing on the proposed closure of State Correctional Institute &#8212; Retreat on Thursday evening at Greater Nanticoke Area High School, 425 Kosciuszko St.</p><p>The hearing will begin at 7 p.m., with doors open at 6 p.m.</p><p>The DOC said the closure proposal is necessary due to a $140 million budget deficit.</p><p>Every SCI Retreat employee will be offered a position at a DOC facility within 65 miles. There are six facilities located within 65 miles of SCI-Retreat: Coal Township, Dallas, Frackville, Mahanoy, Muncy and Waymart. Inmates will be transferred to other state prisons throughout the department.</p><p>Under Act 133 of 2018, the DOC is required to hold a public hearing before making a final determination on the proposed closure. Information and comment provided during this hearing, along with options for staff, physical plant age and condition, costs to operate, and information from external stakeholders will be used to make a final determination on the potential closure.</p><p>Everyone attending the public hearing will have to clear security; this will include passing through a metal detector and having bags searched, officials said.</p><p>Plans to close SCI-Retreat were announced last month. Unlike 2017, when SCI-Retreat was among five state prisons Gov. Tom Wolf was eyeing for closure. only SCI-Pittsburgh was chosen. Retreat is the only facility being targeted this round.</p><p>The Newport Township facility has 384 full-time employees and nearly 1,100 inmates, according to the DOC website.</p><p>The proposed closure is expected to save taxpayers $20 million this fiscal year and $40 million next fiscal year, DOC officials have said.</p><p>Lawmakers representing the region have vowed to fight the closure, pointing out that shutting down SCI-Retreat comes as the Wolf administration separately has proposed to close the White Haven State Center, a residential facility for people with intellectual disabilities.</p><p>State Sen. John Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township, together with state Sens. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, John Gordner, R-Berwick, and state Reps. Gerald Mullery, D-Newport Township, and Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township, have spoken out against the state&#8217;s plans.</p><p>&#8220;In the fight to save SCI Retreat two years ago, we compiled extensive data to demonstrate that the closure of SCI Retreat would have a negative impact on the safety of our state prison system and would deliver a crushing blow to our local economy,&#8221; Yudichak said in a statement issued Wednesday.</p><p>&#8220;The loss of another prison in Pennsylvania means stacking inmate populations in unsafe conditions at remaining prisons or weakening the parole system to the point where it makes our communities less safe,&#8221; he added. &#8220;And the loss of 400 hundred jobs represents not only a significant economic loss, it means we may lose 400 hardworking, community-minded families from Luzerne County.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL082819SCI-Retreat1-2-1-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gov. Tom Wolf has called for the closure of SCI Retreat in Hunlock Creek. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL082819SCI-Retreat1-2-1-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Gov. Tom Wolf has called for the closure of SCI Retreat in Hunlock Creek. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

DOC hearing on SCI-Retreat closure set for Thursday