Wilson takes on prison’s lead role
EAST MILLSBORO – During his time as a superintendent of three state correctional institutions throughout Pennsylvania, Harry E. Wilson’s job has taken him from Luzerne County to Luzerne Township. As of Aug. 30, Wilson took over the duties of superintendent at the State Correctional Institution at Fayette following the retirement of Neal Mechling. The prison, which has a capacity of 2,040 inmates, currently holds approximately 1,400 inmates.
Mechling was named superintendent of the newly-built maximum-security institution in July 2003, and his retirement was effective on Aug. 27 after more then 32 years of service with the Department of Corrections (DOC).
Along with the majority of employees at the institution, Wilson brings with him a diverse background of experience. Before coming to SCI-Fayette, Wilson served as superintendent at SCI-Cresson in Altoona, and was superintendent at SCI-Retreat in Luzerne County before that.
According to Carol Scire, public information officer at SCI-Fayette, only 21 percent of the employees at the prison are new hires. The remaining 79 percent includes staff that has come from seven other institutions. While there are now approximately 450 staff members, when the institution is filled, there will be 722.
During a recent interview, Wilson, 48, pointed out that “This is SCI-Fayette” was written on the board, something he wants all employees to remember.
Wilson said the new institution is in the growing stage and there will be changes. He said the institution, like all the others across the state, needs to assume its own identity.
“They all have their own unique culture, style and character,” he said of the employees from other institutions. “Hopefully, we will be bringing the best practices. Everybody brings good stuff to the table, we need to blend it and make it SCI-Fayette style.
“In a way, I’m lucky to have a high percentage of people with experience,” Wilson said.
With the recent closing of SCI-Waynesburg and the impending closing of SCI-Pittsburgh, the institution received a higher number of officers with experience than most newly-opened institutions.
A second-generation corrections officer, Wilson’s late father was the warden of a county institution. Wilson said although his father died before he became a superintendent, “I think he was proud of me,” he said.
Wilson began his corrections career in September 1977 as a corrections officer at the Erie County Prison. He joined the DOC in July 1978 as a corrections officer trainee at the State Regional Correctional Facility in Mercer.
While at Mercer, Wilson served as sergeant, lieutenant and security lieutenant. In February 1987, Wilson was appointed deputy superintendent for operations at SCI-Retreat, Luzerne County, a position he held until being named superintendent there in February 1996. In April 1998, Wilson became superintendent of SCI-Cresson, Cambria County.
As a part of his duties at Cresson, Wilson also served as supervising superintendent for the eastern region, where he assisted the regional deputy secretary in overseeing operation of state prisons in that region. He also chaired and participated in a number of corrections-related committees.
Wilson said he always “had aspirations” to become a warden when he started, but didn’t necessarily plan that career choice.
Heading a new institution is something new for Wilson, whose two previous job assignments were at older institutions that were not originally built as prisons.
SCI-Fayette is a totally different animal, because in addition to the staff that has transferred from other institutions, there are a number of inmates that have been transferred from other institutions. While there has been talk among the corrections officers’ union of needing more officers, Wilson said he believes there is adequate staffing at the site.
“If I thought it was unsafe, I would report it. I feel the staffing is adequate to do the job,” he said.
As a philosophy regarding inmates, Wilson said he believes that inmates need to be provided with constructive outlets to go back into the community. He said they should learn vocational skills and learn to correct the behaviors that landed them in prison, such as problems with drugs and alcohol.
Although there are some “lifers” at the institution, most of the inmates will eventually re-enter society, Wilson said.
Originally from the Pittsburgh area, Wilson has family in western Pennsylvania. He said he attended the groundbreaking for SCI-Fayette. For now, he is living in the area and commuting home to his wife and three children on the weekends.
Wilson said he is looking forward to his new job. “It’s a big challenge, but I am looking forward to meeting the folks of southwestern Pennsylvania,” he said.
Wilson said his two boys and a girl, aged 10, 12 and 14, think they will be deciding where the new home will be. Eventually the entire family will relocate.
Throughout his career, Wilson has been commended by various department personnel for some of the following reasons: apprehension of an escaped inmate, actions during an emergency training, supervisory performance and successful completion of the institution accreditation process.
In 2003, the Pennsylvania Association of Probation Parole and Corrections named Wilson as Pennsylvania’s Adult Corrections Professional of the Year. In 2004, the Pennsylvania Prison Wardens Association named Wilson Warden of the Year.
Wilson holds a master of arts degree in counseling psychology from Slippery Rock University and a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice from Edinboro University. He is a member of the American Correctional Association and the Pennsylvania Prison Wardens Association.
He was an adjunct professor in the criminology department at Mount Aloysius College and is an accreditation auditor for the American Correctional Association, and has published an article in the Corrections Compendium.
In announcing Wilson’s appointment, Corrections Secretary Jeffrey A. Beard said, “I have every confidence that Harry will continue to activate SCI-Fayette in a successful manner.
“Harry is an experienced corrections professional, who began as a corrections officer and has moved up through the ranks during his 26 years with the Department of Corrections,” Beard said. “He is a respected and trusted corrections professional, whose insight and leadership will be invaluable during the activation of SCI-Fayette.”