Fight against closure of SCI Greensburg, Cresson goes to state capital

GREENSBURG, Pa. — Wives of employees at the State Correction Institution (SCI) in Greensburg are taking their fight against closing the prison to the state capital on Monday.

Hearings on the closure will be held in Harrisburg Monday.

The Greensburg and Cresson state prisons are scheduled to close in June for a newly constructed prison in Centre County.

State officials said they blame the declining prison populations for the closures.

Wives of the employees said it is putting people out of work and displacing families.

"My husband and I both work at the state prison. They want me to take a demotion and a pay cut and go somewhere else," said Candace Gettins.

"Our families are here, our livelihoods are here. It's going to really hurt the economy here in Westmoreland County," said Corey Rigney.

The move is expected to save taxpayers $23 million in the first year.

WPXI