- State Prison
- Pennsylvania
- PO Box 33028, St Petersburg, FL 33733
- 570-735-8754
- Official Website
- Featured
State Correctional Institution – SCI Retreat basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 570-735-8754
This facility is for adult inmates.
The inmates housed at SCI Retreat located at 660 State Rte 11 in Hunlock Creek, 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 Retreat is a medium-security state prison that houses about 1,200 adult male inmates and is comprised of 22 buildings, eight of which are housing units. Some of the housing units are dormitory-style, and others are multiple occupancy cells. SCI Retreat participates in the Correctional Industries program and operates a large scale laundry facility that processes laundry for state hospitals and other correctional facilities. Inmates can also participate in the Community Work Program cleaning up roadways and streets, cutting grass and clearing reed beds for the sewer authority.
Retreat officially opened in January 1988 and the site has a long record of service to the citizens of Pennsylvania. In 1878, an Almshouse (Poorhouse) was established on the grounds by the Central Poor District of Luzerne County "for the care of unfortunate indigents." In 1900, a Hospital for the Insane was added where "those who have mental troubles are treated."
Through the first 30 years of this century, it was known as the Retreat Hospital for the Insane and Almshouse. The gradual trend away from caring for the indigents was formally marked by re-naming the facility Retreat Mental Hospital in 1930. It continued operating as a county facility until 1943 when it was transferred to state control.
Retreat State Mental Hospital operated until 1981 when it was formally closed. On June 29 of that year, an Executive Order, signed by Governor Richard Thornburgh, transferred the facility to the Bureau of Correction, effective July 1, 1981. The Bureau was to have temporary responsibility for maintenance and security until the counties could take it over. The plan never materialized, however, so the Bureau retained the property and turned Retreat into a State Correctional Institution.
Number of Acres Inside Perimeter: 19
Number of Acres Outside Perimeter: 245
Number of Operational Structures (inside and outside of perimeter): 22
Number of Housing Units: 8
Housing units consist of both cells and dormitory-style housing.
Special Features: One Secure Special Needs Unit, the only male Dual Diagnosis Therapeutic Community program in the Department.
Inmate Information:
Inmate Population: Click HERE for the current population report
Inmate Average Age: 35
Total Number of Full-Time Employees: 384
Academic and Vocational Education:
• Academic education is offered from literacy through high school credentials. Inmates can obtain a Commonwealth Secondary Diploma, if they qualify for the program, or a GED.
• Vocational Education: Barber School, Business Occupations program
• Apprenticeship Programs: Carpenter Shop, Electric Shop, Plumbing Shop, Machine Shop, Paint Shop, Refrigeration, Cook, Baker
Inmates completing the program of apprenticeship receive a Journeyman Certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
Inmate Programs:
Family/Relationship Self
• Inside Out Dads
• Reading to your Children
• Inmate Accountability Bank
• Certified Peer Specialist Group
• Veteran’s Program
• Religious Programming
• Community Orientation Reintegration (Phase 1)
Sex Offenders
• Sex Offender Moderate-High Intensity
• Sex Offender Low Intensity
• Special Needs Sex Offender Program
• Sex Offender Booster
Re-Entry
• Pre-Vocational Skills Class
• Offender Work Program
• Money Smart Program
Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD)
• Dual Diagnosis Therapeutic Community
• Recovery Unit
• Outpatient Therapy Group
• Dual Diagnosis
• AA/NA/SOS Support Meetings
Offense Related
• Thinking for a Change
• Act 143 Victim Awareness
• Violence Prevention
• Batterer’s Intervention
Mental Health Programs
• MH Education
• MH Management
• MH Peer Group
• MH Community Re-Entry Group
• Dual Diagnosis Group
• MH Support Group for Recent Psychiatric Commitment Returns
Community Development Organization
• Day of Responsibility
Correctional Industries: Correctional Industries operates a laundry at SCI Retreat. In addition to doing laundry for the institution, it also has contracts with a number of outside state agencies, particularly state hospitals, as well as other correctional institutions. Inmates are afforded the opportunity to be involved in Certified Laundry Correspondence Courses through the National Association of Institutional Linen Management. Correctional Industries laundry employs 50 inmates.
Community Work Program: The Community Work Program had a total of 11,993 hours of community work in 2012 fiscal year for an estimated savings to the community of $299,825.
Work conducted includes:
* Litter pick-up on area highways and local routes
* Street cleaning and brush clearing in flood control areas for the communities of Shickshinny, Plymouth, and Newport Township
* Clearing of reed beds for Shickshinny Sewer Authority
* Grass cutting and cleaning of State Route 11 Rest Area
visitation Info
State Correctional Institution – SCI Retreat PA – Visitation
Visiting Hours – General Population
Monday: 8:30 AM to 4 PM
Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: CLOSED
Friday: 8:30 AM to 4 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM to 4 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM to 4 PM
Maximum Number of Visitors Per Inmate – 5 Adults (unlimited under age 12)
