State Correctional Institution – Rockview
State Correctional Institution Rockview is a large prison facility on expansive grounds in Benner Township, Pennsylvania. The facility consists of stone and concrete buildings arranged across a hillside, featuring residential blocks, work areas, exercise yards, guard towers, and administrative offices.
The facility was founded in 1912 and opened in 1915 to relieve overcrowding in other prisons. It evolved from a maximum security prison with dormitory housing to a complex that included farming operations, and it became the site of significant events including executions and a major riot in 1953.
Visitors must follow strict rules and meet inmates in designated supervised areas. The rural setting surrounded by trees and fields means that good weather provides the best conditions for visiting.
The grounds originally featured farms and gardens where inmates grew food and learned agricultural skills. A specialized Forestry Camp today teaches selected inmates near release in forest management and tree planting.
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