State Correctional Institution – SCI Mercer

State Correctional Institution – SCI Mercer basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 724-662-1837

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at SCI Mercer located at 801 Butler Pike in Mercer, PA are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

SCI Mercer is a minimum-security state prison that incarcerates about 1,500 adult male inmates. The prison is comprised of 37 buildings, thirteen of which are housing units. Some of the housing units are dormitory-style, and others are multiple occupancy cells. Select inmates who are near the end of their sentence can participate in the Community Work Program, which allows them to volunteer labor to various local communities. Duties inmates will perform in the Community Work Program include interior and exterior painting, cleaning parks and roadways, and loading and unloading food for local food banks.

The facility also offers inmates vocational training and certification in automotive repair, custodial maintenance, computers, and various construction trades. Inmates who do not currently possess a diploma can receive educational classes and earn a GED during their incarceration.

CARE Canine Program: In May of 2011, SCI Mercer, along with Stray Haven Animal Shelter in Greenville, implemented a dog training program with inmates as the dog handlers/trainers. The program was named CARE (Corrections Adoptive Rescue Endeavor). Having this training program at the prison not only frees up space at the shelter but also provides the training and socialization needed to make the dogs more adoptable. It also provides the inmates with a skill that could be utilized upon release back into the community.

Mercer was initially established as a State Regional Correctional Facility (SRCF), receiving short-term male county offenders from 14 Northwestern Pennsylvania counties. Capacity at that time was 180 minimum-security inmates with a staff complement of 100. SRCF Mercer was designed as an open, campus-like setting positioned on 304 acres of land and was classified as a Level 2 (L-2) facility. In 2008, SRCF Mercer changed from a regional facility to a State Correctional Institution. On July 1, 2008, the custody level of the institution changed to a level 2-3 facility. Throughout the years there have been various construction projects undertaken, leading to the current inmate population of 1,489 inmates.

SCI Mercer is unique in that it operates solely on electrical power. The facility is equipped with nine diesel-powered emergency generators to maintain essential services in the event of a power failure. In addition, the facility operates its own wastewater treatment plant.

Number of Acres Inside Perimeter: 37

Number of Acres Outside Perimeter: 202

Number of Operational Structures: 37

Number of Housing Units: 13

Housing units consist of both cells and dormitory-style housing.

Inmate Information:

Inmate Population: Click HERE for the current population report

Inmate Average Age: 39

Total Number of Full-Time Employees: 440

Academic and Vocational Education:

The Education Building at SCI Mercer was originally a bowling alley located in Meadville, Pa. The building was donated, disassembled and reassembled on-grounds using both contractor and inmate labor. Educational classes include:
• Academic Education through GED level
• Vocational Education: Building Trades, Business Education, Auto Mechanics, Custodial Maintenance and a Barber Manager Program

All vocational programs at SCI Mercer offer official trade-based certifications, i.e., NCCER certifications for the Building Trades and Custodial Maintenance; ICDL computer certification for the Business Education Program; and the Automotive Repair Program offers the PA Auto Inspection certificate.

Community Work Program (CWP):

The CWP program involves taking selected inmates with an outside clearance who are near completion of their sentence into the community to perform voluntary, unskilled labor for governmental and non-profit public service agencies. The goals of this program are to enhance community relations and for the inmates to accomplish useful work, to make a contribution to society, and to develop a strong work ethic and a feeling of self-worth. Some of the projects completed by the CWP crew include:

• Painting (interior and/or exterior) at local churches and at the New Castle Armory, New Castle Cathedral, Scottish Rite Cathedral; as well as yard work at the churches and local campgrounds
• Painted the pool and walls at the Buhl Community Recreation Center in Sharon, PA, saving the Center $17,000 in labor costs.
• Cleanup at local fairgrounds, including Lawrence County, Mercer Grange, Jefferson Township, and Stoneboro
• Local Interstate and Highway litter cleanup
• Washing/waxing fire trucks for the Farrell and Hermitage Fire Departments
• Loading/unloading food at local food banks

visitation Info

State Correctional Institution – SCI Mercer PA – Visitation

Visiting Hours – General Population

• Monday: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
• Tuesday: CLOSED
• Wednesday: CLOSED
• Thursday: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
• Friday: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
• Saturday: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
• Sunday: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Maximum Number of Visitors Per Inmate – 5 adults and 3 children – total of 8 per inmate

State Correctional Institution – SCI Mercer PA – Visiting Hours
State Correctional Institution – SCI Mercer PA – Visitation Rules