PRINTER'S NO. 3381
No. 288 Session of 1986
INTRODUCED BY RICHARDSON, APRIL 23, 1986
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 28, 1986
A RESOLUTION
1 Establishing a special committee to investigate conditions at
2 the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon.
3 WHEREAS, Serious allegations have been made by numerous
4 inmates incarcerated in the State Correctional Institution at
5 Huntingdon, inmates who have been transferred from that prison
6 to other prisons, the families of those persons and interested
7 outside parties; and
8 WHEREAS, These allegations relate to the conditions of
9 living, treatment of inmates, process for grievances and overall
10 practices, policies and accountability of the Huntingdon State
11 Prison administration and staff, and include the following:
12 (1) It is alleged that the staff is extremely prejudiced
13 and biased against minority inmates.
14 (2) It is alleged that numerous members of the
15 administration and staff are closely related by blood or
16 marriage, and as a result, if one guard dislikes an inmate,
17 the entire staff will single the inmate out for punishment
1 and humiliation.
2 (3) Many instances of unwarranted beatings and torture
3 have been reported.
4 (4) It is alleged that medical attention has been
5 wrongfully withheld, resulting in the aggravation of
6 illnesses and injuries, and even resulting in death.
7 (5) It is alleged that homosexual assaults have been
8 made upon inmates by guards and, when reported, only lead to
9 threats, harassment and punishment of the inmates.
10 (6) It is alleged that prison uprisings, and in
11 particular the riot of January 8, 1985, are instigated by the
12 guards.
13 (7) It is alleged that at least one person with AIDs has
14 been placed in the general prison population.
15 (8) It is alleged that persons who report injustices or
16 who act on behalf of those suffering injustices are singled
17 out for punishment; and
18 WHEREAS, There has been a lack of cooperation by the prison
19 administration and prosecuting authorities in investigating
20 these serious allegations; therefore be it
21 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
22 appoint a special committee of seven members, four from the
23 majority party and three from the minority party, to investigate
24 the allegations made by inmates and former inmates of the State
25 Correctional Institution at Huntingdon and their families and
26 other interested parties as to living conditions, treatment of
27 inmates, process for grievances and overall practices, policies
28 and accountability of the prison administration and staff; and
29 be it further
30 RESOLVED, That the committee shall hold public hearings, take
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1 testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems
2 necessary in this Commonwealth. It may issue subpoenas under the
3 hand and seal of its chairman commanding any person to appear
4 before the committee and to answer questions touching matters
5 properly being inquired into by the committee and to produce
6 such books, papers, records and documents as the committee deems
7 necessary. The subpoenas may be served upon any person and shall
8 have the same effect as subpoenas issued out of the courts of
9 this Commonwealth. Any person who willfully neglects or refuses
10 to testify before the committee or to produce any books, papers,
11 records or documents shall be subject to the penalties provided
12 by the laws of this Commonwealth in such case. Each member of
13 the committee shall have power to administer oaths and
14 affirmations to witnesses appearing before the committee; and be
15 it further
16 RESOLVED, That within 30 calendar days after the committee
17 has made its report or the mandate of the committee has expired,
18 the chairman of the committee shall cause a record of all
19 expenses incurred by the committee, or the members thereof,
20 which are payable at Commonwealth expense, to be filed with the
21 Chief Clerk; and be it further
22 RESOLVED, That the committee shall report its findings and
23 recommendations to the House of Representatives for its
24 consideration as soon as possible.
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