PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2710 PRINTER'S NO. 2719
No. 226 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY NAILOR, MOWERY, HAYES, BUNT, CALTAGIRONE, NOYE,
BROUJOS, B. SMITH, MARSICO, PICCOLA, DININNI, HAGARTY,
HECKLER, KOSINSKI, BLAUM, JOSEPHS, GRUITZA, McHALE, RITTER,
VEON, MOEHLMANN, McVERRY, BIRMELIN, LASHINGER, REBER, WOGAN,
R. C. WRIGHT, BORTNER, DORR, HESS, GIGLIOTTI, HERMAN,
JAROLIN, ARGALL, CORNELL, VROON, HERSHEY, FAIRCHILD, JOHNSON,
HASAY, CARLSON, DeLUCA, ADOLPH, BARLEY, BILLOW, BRANDT, BURD,
BUSH, CAPPABIANCA, CESSAR, CLYMER, DAVIES, DIETTERICK, FARGO,
FARMER, FLEAGLE, HOWLETT, JACKSON, KONDRICH, LANGTRY,
SCHEETZ, BLACK, GLADECK, LAUGHLIN, PISTELLA, DEMPSEY, MERRY,
PESCI, FEE, SERAFINI, WILSON, CIVERA, RYAN, ROBBINS,
STRITTMATTER, MAYERNIK, NAHILL, PHILLIPS, PITTS, RYBAK,
SAURMAN, G. SNYDER, E. Z. TAYLOR, J. TAYLOR, TELEK,
J. L. WRIGHT, GODSHALL AND D. F. CLARK, NOVEMBER 13, 1989
AMENDED, NOVEMBER 14, 1989
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the House Judiciary Committee to study and investigate
2 all aspects of the recent rioting at the State Correctional
3 Institution at Camp Hill, at the State Correctional
4 Institution at Huntingdon, at the State Correctional
5 Institution at Graterford, AT THE STATE CORRECTIONAL <--
6 INSTITUTION AT ROCKVIEW and at the other prison facilities
7 throughout this Commonwealth.
8 WHEREAS, The State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill was
9 the scene of two separate riots over a three-day period
10 beginning on October 25, 1989, and ending on October 28, 1989;
11 and
12 WHEREAS, It has been reported that the two prison riots at
13 the Camp Hill prison have resulted in at least 107 injuries and
14 in the destruction, by fire, of at least 14 of the 31 buildings
1 on the prison grounds; and
2 WHEREAS, The Camp Hill prison facility, with an inmate
3 capacity of 1,826, reportedly contained more than 2,600 inmates
4 at the time of the riots; and
5 WHEREAS, It has been reported that the widespread destruction
6 of prison facilities at Camp Hill may require the transfer of
7 nearly 1,000 prisoners to other prison facilities which
8 themselves are overcrowded; and
9 WHEREAS, The response to the Camp Hill prison riots raises a
10 number of serious questions, including, but not limited to,
11 questions as to how a second riot could have occurred one day
12 after a "lock down" that was imposed in the aftermath of the
13 first riot, questions about the incarceration of Camp Hill
14 prisoners at alternative prison facilities, questions
15 surrounding the adequacy of protection for neighboring
16 communities against escapes during the course of the riots, and
17 questions regarding the causes and cost of the riots at the Camp
18 Hill facility, the response to the riots, and the prevention of
19 and response to future riots; and
20 WHEREAS, A riot also occurred at the State Correctional
21 Institution at Huntingdon on October 23, 1989, which reportedly
22 resulted in 48 injuries; and
23 WHEREAS, A riot also occurred at the State Correctional
24 Institution at Graterford on November 1, 1989, which reportedly
25 resulted in 7 injuries; and
26 WHEREAS, A RIOT ALSO OCCURRED AT THE STATE CORRECTIONAL <--
27 INSTITUTION AT ROCKVIEW ON FEBRUARY 7, 1989, WHICH REPORTEDLY
28 RESULTED IN 18 INJURIES; AND
29 WHEREAS, A need exists to consider ways of reducing the high
30 number of injuries sustained by corrections officers and other
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1 correctional personnel who acted with bravery and restraint
2 under extreme provocation during the riots at the State
3 Correctional Institutions at Camp Hill, Huntingdon and <--
4 Graterford, GRATERFORD AND ROCKVIEW; and <--
5 WHEREAS, A similar need exists to consider ways of reducing
6 the high number of injuries sustained by State and local police
7 officers and volunteer and other fire, ambulance, rescue and
8 emergency personnel who performed with distinction and courage
9 during the riots at the State Correctional Institutions; and
10 WHEREAS, The riots at the Camp Hill, Huntingdon and <--
11 Graterford, GRATERFORD AND ROCKVIEW State correctional <--
12 facilities and elsewhere justify a review of prison overcrowding
13 and other factors that might have a bearing on the recent riots
14 and the responses thereto at prison facilities; and
15 WHEREAS, Consequences of the two Camp Hill prison riots and
16 the Huntingdon prison riot and the Graterford prison riot, as
17 reflected in the numerous injuries, the substantial financial
18 costs that will accrue to the Commonwealth and the severe
19 additional strain that has been placed on other overcrowded
20 prison facilities, require a full and complete inquiry into the
21 causes of and the responses to these riots; therefore be it
22 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
23 Judiciary Committee to study and investigate all aspects of the
24 recent rioting at the State Correctional Institution at Camp
25 Hill, at the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon, at
26 the State Correctional Institution at Graterford, AT THE STATE <--
27 CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AT ROCKVIEW and at other prison
28 facilities throughout this Commonwealth, including the causes of
29 and the responses to such riots, and to fully examine and to
30 make recommendations regarding the prevention of future riots at
19890H0226R2719 - 3 -
1 prison facilities; and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
3 testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems
4 necessary in this Commonwealth. Each member of the committee
5 shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations to
6 witnesses appearing before the committee; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That the committee shall report to the House of
8 Representatives on its activities, findings and recommendations,
9 and shall issue interim reports to the House of Representatives
10 as the committee deems necessary.
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