SCI Huntingdon
The State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon was created by an act of the General Assembly on June 12, 1878. A group of commissioners appointed for the purpose of selecting a proper site decided on the present location along the Juniata River.
The original tract of ground contained 39 acres and several springs. The land for SCI Huntingdon was purchased at a cost of $22,036. In 1888, R. W. McClaughry was named as the first General Superintendent to direct the new reformatory for delinquents too young for a penitentiary and too old for a juvenile institution. The Industrial Reformatory at Huntingdon received its first inmates in 1889.
Two additional cell blocks were added in the 1930s. In 1945, the institution was officially declared the Pennsylvania Institution for Defective Delinquents. Inmates were labeled by the courts as mentally defective with criminal tendencies. In 1960, SCI Huntingdon made its final change to a maximum security, adult male state correctional institution.
SCI Huntingdon is Pennsylvania’s oldest State Correctional Institution in continuous operation, opening its gates in 1889. Originally intended to reform and educate young male offenders, inmates were schooled in the trades which included, painting, plumbing, carpentry, and cabinet making, electrical, masonry (stone and brick) a foundry, blacksmith shop, lime kiln, brick ovens, saw mill, lumber kiln, and planing mill.
The farm operation supplied meats, dairy, poultry, and vegetables for the kitchen. Electricity generated in the power plant and water supplied by springs on the property made the Institution almost totally independent from the outside world.
Prison Insights
SCI Huntingdon
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Visiting Hours and Rules
Visiting Days/Times at SCI Huntingdon:
Monday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday: 8:15 am to 3:30 pm
Tuesday | Wednesday: CLOSED
NOTE: Inmates are only permitted six visits each month. Only three of the six visits can be on the weekends.
MAX Number of Visitors per Inmate: five (includes children)
Vending Machine: CASH and Debit/Credit Card. Only coins, $1 and $5 bills are permitted. The limit is $50. All cash must be contained in a clear, plastic bag or small, clear change purse. Visitors are permitted to bring a debit/credit card to use in the vending machines.
SCI Huntingdon strives to maintain a family friendly visiting room with a relaxed setting. Small games are available to play during visits. Since food items, snacks, and beverages are not permitted to be brought into the institution's visiting room, these items may be purchased from the vending machines located in the visiting area. Inmates are permitted six visits per month.
Visiting Rules
- Vehicles must be locked while on prison property. Windows must be rolled up/closed.
- NEVER bring any gifts or money for the inmate. This must be done through JPay. Prisons will NOT accept money to be placed on an inmate’s account.
- No cell phones.
- Any kind of device that has the capability of audio and/or video/photography recording and/or cell phone capabilities is NOT permitted.
- No purses, bags, diaper bags, etc.
- Unused visits per week may not be carried over into the following week. It’s a “use them or lose them” rule.
- At most facilities, lockers are available for use. Some lockers may require a deposit ranging from 25 cents to $10. Items not permitted in the visiting room should either be left in your vehicle or placed in the locker. All vehicles and lockers are subject to search.
Visitors with infants
Please feed your baby/babies before visiting. If you have a baby as a part of your visiting group, you may take these items into the visiting room:
- Up to three UNOPENED, commercially prepared and vacuum-sealed containers of baby food per infant. All containers will be opened by the inspecting officers.
- Up to three clear plastic bottles of pre-mixed formula/white milk per infant.
- Up to three diapers per infant. Diapers must be loose so they can be inspected.
- Up to three pull-ups or training pants per infant.
- A reasonable number of wipes.
Video Visitation
Video visitation is a free service being offered to inmates and authorized visitors, and all inmates are eligible to participate.
To sign up and schedule a visit, check out the visitation scheduler system. For complete details, read the Video Visitation Visitors Guide.Physical Address
SCI Huntingdon
1100 Pike Street
Huntingdon, PA 16654-1112
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/J4bXgJq9XUoAQnsp8
General Phone Number
(814) 643-2400
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Smart Communications/PADOC
SCI Huntingdon
Inmate Name, Inmate Number
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, FL 33733
How to Call an Inmate
Inmates at SCI Huntingdon can’t receive incoming phone calls, but they do have access to phones during certain hours. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Pennsylvania, please click here.
How to Send Money
The Department of Corrections (DOC) uses JPay to send money to inmates in all Pennsylvania correctional institutions. Family and friends must deposit money into an inmate's account through JPay, either online or through lobby kiosks at each individual state prison.
Money Orders
A Deposit Slip MUST be filled out and submitted with EVERY money order. Slips are available at the money order section of the JPay website, visiting rooms, and the DOC's website.
DEPOSIT SLIP (pdf)
DEPOSIT SLIP (pdf) (Spanish)
Money order deposit slips must have the following information CLEARLY TYPED in order for the funds to be posted to the inmate account: Handwritten forms are subject to delay.
• Correct inmate ID #
• Inmate name
• Sender’s name and address
DO NOT send money to any other individual, website, or Email account. Money orders are NOT accepted at any state correctional institutions.
For JPay information, call 800.574.5729
JPay Frequently Asked Questions Information Sheet (pdf)
Programs For Inmates
Academic Education through GED level
Vocational Education: Business Education, Auto Mechanics, Barbering, Building Trades, Carpentry, Printing, and Warehouse/Forklift Operations. The vocational programs can accommodate up to 160 inmates. Industry-recognized certifications are available in all of these programs.
Apprenticeship Programs: Building Maintenance, Auto Mechanics, Bricklayer, Computer Graphics/Printing, Electrical Maintenance, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration, Upholstery, Cook, Landscape Maintenance Technician, and Baker.
Inmate Programs:
- Family/Relationship Self
- Reading to your Children
- Veterans' Support Group
Sex Offenders
- Sex Offender Moderate-High Intensity Treatment
- Offender Low Intensity Treatment
- Special Needs Sex Offender Program
- Sex Offender Booster Program
Reentry
- Pre-Vocational Skills Class
- MoneySmart Program
Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD)
- Living Sober Therapeutic Community
- Parole Violator Group
- Outpatient Therapy Group
- Dual Diagnosis Group
- AA and NA Support Meetings
- Self-Management and Recovery Training
Offense Related
- Thinking for a Change
- Act 143 Victim Awareness
- Violence Prevention
- Batterer’s Intervention
- Mental Health Programs
- Dual Diagnosis Group
Correctional Industries: In its modern form, Correctional Industries was introduced at SCI Huntingdon in September of 1954. At the present time, there are three major industrial plants in operation at this facility. There is a Garment/Clothing Plant, a Soap/Detergent Plant, and a Print/Sticker Plant.
Community Work Program: The Community Work Program has performed almost 4,000 hours of community work since January 2013.
CWP projects:
- Smithfield Township - general labor
- Bricktown Senior Citizens Center - general labor
- Greenwood State Park - general labor
- Newton Hamilton Borough - general labor
- Huntingdon Community Center - general labor
- Wood Community Association - general labor
- PennDOT Adopt a Highway Program - litter pickup
Pictures of SCI Huntingdon
Careers at SCI Huntingdon
If you are interested in a career with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, you can find out more information about available jobs at SCI Huntingdon by clicking here.
