SCI Benner Township

State Prison

Last Updated: February 12, 2024
Address
301 Institution Dr, Bellefonte, PA 16823
County
Centre
Phone
814-353-3630
Email
ra-crpadocsecretary@pa.gov
Mailing Address
PO Box 33028, St Petersburg, FL 33733

SCI Benner is for State Prison offenders sentenced anywhere from one year to life by the State Court in the county where the charges were filed

All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for State - medium facility.

The phone carrier is Securus Tech®, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.

If you are seeking to send your inmate money for commissary, one recommended for this facility is JPAY - Pennsylvania SCI. There is a fee for sending money, see their rates and limitations.

If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders

Satellite View of SCI Benner Township

You can support your loved ones at SCI Benner on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 814-353-3630.

Located at 301 Institution Dr in Bellefonte, PA, SCI Benner carefully assigns inmates based on their custody level, considering factors like criminal history. SCI Benner offers diverse educational and vocational programs aimed at equipping offenders for successful reintegration into society and reducing recidivism. Through these initiatives, inmates gain skills and confidence, fostering personal growth and resilience.

SCI Benner Township is a medium-security facility for males situated in Centre County, within the Pennsylvania DOC System. Construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony in August 2009, culminating in the intake of the first inmates on April 15, 2013. Managed by contractor Hensel Phelps, the facility spans 46 acres inside the perimeter and 42 acres outside, comprising 26 operational structures, including 10 housing units featuring both cells and dormitory-style accommodations. Notable features include the Special Needs Unit (SNU), Restricted Housing Unit (RHU), Diversionary Treatment Unit (DTU), and Residential Treatment Unit (RTU), with a designation as a Mental Health Stability Code D Facility.

Employing 633 full-time staff members, SCI Benner Township offers a range of academic and vocational education programs, including adult basic education, vocational training in custodial maintenance, plumbing, electricity, carpentry, business education, and a barbershop. Inmates can also access additional education services such as library resources and post-secondary education/correspondence classes, with certifications available upon completion of certain programs.

Various inmate programs are available, addressing family/relationship/self issues, sex offender treatment, re-entry preparation, substance abuse, offense-related behavior, and mental health concerns. The Medical Department provides comprehensive healthcare services, including sub-acute hospital care, dental services, and a psychiatric observation unit for crisis intervention. Religious services, activities, and structured recreation programs cater to spiritual, physical, and social needs, with specialized programming tailored for different demographics within the inmate population.

SCI Benner Township hosts a Correctional Industries laundry facility, employing approximately 116 inmate workers to provide laundry services for multiple customers, including veterans' homes, other correctional institutions, hospitals, and universities. Additionally, the facility operates the Centralized Transportation HUB for inmate transfers, managed through the Office of Population Management.

Inmate Locator

SCI Benner maintains a database of current inmates and their locations within the system. To locate an inmate, begin by using the DOC locator tool, which requires entering the first three letters of the inmate's first and last name, allowing for variations in spelling.

If unable to locate the desired information through free resources, users may opt to use the Arrest Record Search, which requires payment. While this option incurs a small fee, it provides access to the most up-to-date data available.

Get an Arrest Record immediately.

Visitation Information

In-person visitation is available at all DOC facilities. Some visiting rules have changed, so please be sure to read this entire page and check out the updated Visiting Rules page, as well as the Visitor Guide before scheduling an in-person visit with an incarcerated loved one. This page also contains instructions on how to schedule a no-cost video visit.​

In-Person Visitation

All in-person visits must be scheduled online at least three days in advance.

  • Schedule a visit.
  • You will see available timeslots, based on your loved one’s specific housing assignment, when you log in.
  • Each inmate is permitted four in-person visits per month, one of which may be on a weekend; in-person visits are guaranteed to be at least one hour long.
  • Four visitors are permitted with one inmate at a time. (Exception: At Quehanna Boot Camp, two visitors are permitted at a time.)
  • All visitors must clear all security procedures and comply with all visiting room rules.
  • Notice on Cancellations: Visits may be canceled for several reasons. You will be notified by email if a cancellation occurs. Please check the email associated with your account the morning of your scheduled visit.
  • At the time of arrival and departure, the visitor may exchange a brief hug and kiss with their incarcerated loved one. There shall be no excessive displays of affection.

Video Visitation

Video visitation is a free service offered to inmates and authorized visitors. All inmates are eligible to participate. Rules for video visits are generally the same as those for in-person visits at a facility. All non-legal video visits are monitored and recorded. Please review our detailed Visitor Guide prior to your visit.

If you are an attorney, legislator or other professional visitor:

Ask The Inmate

Ask a former inmate questions at no charge. The inmate answering has spent considerable time in the federal prison system, state and county jails, and in a prison that was run by the private prison entity CCA. Ask your question or browse previous questions in response to comments or further questions of members of the InmateAid community.