HARRISBURG – To recognize the work men and women perform in Pennsylvania’s prisons, Gov. Edward G. Rendell has proclaimed May 6 – 12 as “Corrections Employee Week.”
“This is a small but important way to express appreciation to the more than 29,000 men and women who protect public safety through the secure and humane operation of county, state and federal prisons in Pennsylvania,” Rendell said.
Rendell said many people form their opinion of corrections from watching movies and television, which often fail to accurately portray conditions in the modern penal system.
“Modern prisons are not dark, dangerous places where inmates are left to fester,” Governor Rendell said. “Our prisons are clean, bright and secure places that offer many evidence-based rehabilitative programs for inmates. They also are safe places for inmates to live and for employees to work.”
In proclaiming Corrections Employee Week, Governor Rendell encourages all Pennsylvanians to recognize the vital role these dedicated professionals play in ensuring public safety and the secure, safe and humane operation of Pennsylvania’s 26 state correctional facilities, a training academy, 13 community corrections centers, 37 contract facilities, a motivational boot camp, 63 county prisons and jails and nine federal correctional institutions.
“Corrections employees work with those whom society has sent to prison, some of whom are very dangerous and violent,” said Corrections Secretary Jeffrey A. Beard, Ph.D. “It is only fitting that citizens recognize the important work performed by the highly trained and skilled employees.”
