STATE PRISON IDEA SPARKS DIALOGUE

Officials in Cameron County are interested in the idea of a state prison being located in the county, but nowhere near ready to take an official stand.

The issue was discussed briefly by Commissioners Glen Fiebig, Phil Jones and JoAnn Smith on Monday.

County officials acknowledge that a prison would provide an economic boost by creating jobs requiring a variety of skill levels. At the same time, there are concerns about security and the potential infrastructure demands, including water service and sewage treatment.

Fiebig pointed out that there are many potential locations in Cameron County to accommodate a state prison.

"This concept would be something to investigate," Commissioner Smith added.

Pennsylvania's prison population continues to grow at a rate of about 1,500 per year, edging closer to the 50,000 mark. Budget battles in Harrisburg focus on whether to expand current prisons, build new ones, or embrace alternatives to incarceration.

Cells are being added at four facilities: Coal Township in Northumberland County, Cambridge Springs in Crawford County, Pine Grove in Indiana County and Forest in Forest County.

A more recent plan calls for building a 2,300-inmate prison on the grounds of a current state prison in Dallas, Luzerne County; a 2,000-inmate facility at another existing prison in Rockview, Centre County; and a 2,000-inmate prison at the current state prison at Huntingdon, Huntingdon County.

Even if all of those plans become a reality, Pennsylvania could still run out of prison space as early as 2012.