Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections employees have been faced with a myriad of challenges and have adapted their operations to ensure the safety of inmates and employees.

“As is the case with all corrections employees, when a challenge presents itself, they rally and answer the call for help through creativity and hard work,” Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said. “One specific area that went above and beyond is Pennsylvania Correctional Industries.”

PCI garment plants have produced 8,577 gowns for the PA Department of Health and 11,678 for the PA Department of Corrections. PCI also made approximately 750,000 masks and shipped them throughout the commonwealth. Nearly 430 sneeze guards also were manufactured, and more than 2,200 floor decals were made to help in the reopening of the state agencies, counties and local governments.

DOC officials recognized SCI Frackville for making masks. Supervisor Michael Stever and foremen Bernard Tomko, Jason Strouse, Daniel Wright and Michael Laurie were specifically named.