Implementation of Place of Confinement (Act 81 of 2008) inmates serving sentences of more than two years.
Please take a moment to review the information at the links on this page, including the Question and Answer sections and other information. These materials have been developed by the Pennsylvania DOC County/State Committee, a group of Department of Corrections officials, county commissioners and county jail administrators who meet quarterly to discuss corrections policy, current events and best practices. The group has undertaken the development these resources in anticipation of the November 2011 effective date of Act 81 of 2008. This act, as you likely know, includes provisions requiring inmates sentenced in the range of two to five years to be committed to state facilities as opposed to county jails. The act includes some exceptions for allowing these inmates to remain in county facilities, and the exceptions relate to the available capacity of the county jail.
While the act is written in a way that allows a great deal of local discretion, there are a number of areas where having some guidance and standards may improve the ability of each county to implement local policies. To that end, these resources include some suggested forms, a recommended formula for determining capacity, and details for counties to utilize in determining which state offenders they may house after the effective date who will qualify for reimbursement by the Department of Corrections for eligible work release offenders.
Many statewide associations are working to provide educational information for their members prior to the effective date. These resources were developed with representation from all of these groups, and if utilized across the state, will create consistency that will enhance the effect of the act. Further, opportunities for education are being planned by each affected organization for the near future.
We hope you find the information useful. We also encourage you to provide feedback on the materials, or additional questions to your statewide association so that it can be shared with other collaborating associations and groups. You can contact CCAP liaison Brinda Penyak at 717-232-7554
or via email at bpenyak@pacounties.org, who will assist in directing your communication to the DOC County/State Liaison Committee and your statewide representatives.
Q&A: place of confinement and capacity
Capacity certification sample form
Q&A: work release provisions
Copy of Act 81
Analysis of the Act
Other Information
SGS Web Access
Act 81 - A Warden's Perspective