Pike County Prison cited as exemplary at Harrisburg hearing

HARRISBURG n Warden Craig Lowe, of the Pike County Correctional Facility in Blooming Grove, traveled to the state capital on Apr. 23, to testify before a joint state House and Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. The session explored the question of prison conditions and reforms within the Commonwealth. The Pike County Correctional Facility was offered as an example of a model prison. The committee identified public safety and public health as two of the greatest concerns harbored by citizens, while posing the question - does our criminal justice system and the decision about whom and how we incarcerate people, actually make citizens safer and healthier? In seeking an answer, the Joint House & Senate Judiciary Committee sought input from several correctional experts from across the state including Lowe who is at the helm of a correctional facility that can boast an excellent health and safety record. Lowe told the committee that the state correctional system has no shortage of problems and shortfalls but that there are solutions. “I can show you working examples of these solutions in Pike County.” “It is a major compliment to Warden Lowe to be one of six people invited to testify; a compliment to him and his staff.” said Rich Caridi, President of the Pike County Prison Board.