State Correctional Institution – SCI Rockview

State Correctional Institution – SCI Rockview basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 814-355-4874

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at SCI Rockview located at 1 Rockview Pl in Bellefonte, 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 Rockview is a medium-security state prison that incarcerates about 2,400 adult male inmates. The prison is comprised of 103 structures, fourteen of which are housing units. Housing units at SCI Rockview are multi-occupancy cells and dormitory-style. This facility is also responsible for administering capital punishment to all-male offenders who have been given the Death Penalty. SCI Rockview participates in the Correctional Industries program employing inmates in a wood furniture factory.

Housing units consist of both cells and dormitory-style housing.
Special Features: Secure Residential Treatment Unit
Rockview is the site of the administration of the death penalty.

The State Correctional Rockview was originally intended to be a maximum-security prison to replace Western Penitentiary. This did not come to pass, however, although the first cellblock at Rockview was built for maximum-security purposes. Under Governor Gifford Pinchot, in the 1920s, the plans were changed to provide that Rockview would become a medium-security institution operated as a branch, or farm, prison by the Western Penitentiary. Its capacity was 1,012 with 500 maximum and 512 medium minimum-security cells.

Rockview is also the site of the administration of the death penalty, again reintroduced to Pennsylvania in 1978. The deputy warden building was completed in December 1914, and the first execution took place on February 23, 1915. The Commonwealth has executed 350 persons by means of electrocution.

On November 29, 1990, Governor Robert P. Casey signed into law Senate Bill 637 that replaced the electric chair with lethal injection as the state's method of executing convicted killers. The electric chair was removed and sent to the Pennsylvania Museum. The old institution hospital building has been renovated into an execution complex complete with the equipment necessary for lethal injection, rooms to accommodate various department and institution staff, news media witnesses, victims witness and other authorized individuals.

Number of Acres Inside Perimeter: 35.042
Number of Acres Outside Perimeter: 4,268.88
Number of Operational Structures (inside and outside of perimeter): 103
Number of Housing Units: 14
Housing units consist of both cells and dormitory-style housing.
Special Features: Secure Residential Treatment Unit

Inmate Information:

Inmate Population: Click HERE for the current population report
Inmate Average Age: 44.61

Total Number of Full-Time Employees: 715

Academic and Vocational Education:

• Academic Education through GED level
• Vocational Education: HVAC, Barber School, Business Education, Electricity/Residential Wiring, Masonry, Pre-Vocational Skills Class, Money Smart, Act 143 Victim Awareness

All vocational classes offer industry-recognized certifications specific to the trade skills taught in the program.

Inmate Programs:

Family/Relationship Self
• Inside Out Dad’s Parenting Program
Sex Offenders
• Sex Offender Moderate-High Intensity
• Sex Offender Low Intensity
• Sex Offender Booster Program
• Sex Offender SNU Groups
• Peer Tutor Groups
Re-Entry
Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD)
• Therapeutic Community
• Outpatient Therapy Group
• Dual Diagnosis
• AA/NA/SOS Support Meetings
Offense Related
• Thinking for a Change
• Violence Prevention
• Batterer’s Intervention

Impact of Crimes
Mental Health Programs
• MH Education
• MH Peer Group
• MH Community Re-Entry Group
• Dual Diagnosis Group
• MH SOP

Seeking Safety

Correctional Industries: The Pennsylvania Correctional Industries Wood Furniture Factory began operation at SCI Rockview in February 2008. It services many Pennsylvania state agencies, non-profit agencies and Pennsylvania subsidized agencies.

Community Work Program: The Community Work Program provides crews to assist with DCNR, Non-Profit Organizations, Other Correctional Facilities, Federal and Local Government.

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

visitation Info

State Correctional Institution – SCI Rockview – Visitation

Visiting Hours – General Population
Monday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
 (CLOSED first Monday of every month, except holidays.)
Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Maximum Number of Visitors Per Inmate
5 (including children)