Special Needs Unit Opens at Pa. Correctional Facility


HUNTINGDON, Pa. — The State Correctional Institution at Smithfield recently opened a new 19-bed Secure Special Needs Unit designed to give inmates with significant mental health concerns and those with restricted housing unit assignments the opportunity to participate in a highly specialized treatment program.

SCI Smithfield has become one of eight state correctional institutions statewide to have an SSNU. The others are located at prisons at Camp Hill, Cresson, Frackville, 
Graterford, Muncy, Pittsburgh and Retreat. 
 
The SSNU uses a five-phase progressive treatment program. An individual 
treatment program is designed for each inmate in the unit that reflects the specific 
goals and treatments to be used. After completing all five units, inmates can earn 
the right to re-enter the institution’s general population housing units.