Corrections Officers Would Be Able To Live Outside Of Pa. Under Bill Passed By Senate Panel

By John Cole, Pennsylvania Capital-Star

September 10, 2025

Pennsylvania corrections officers may soon be able to live outside of the state.

On Tuesday, the state Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously advanced Senate Bill 111, which would authorize the hiring and promotion of out-of-state residents as COs by the Department of Corrections.

“There are few jobs… (as) stressful as a corrections officer, working day and night, weekends, holidays, to protect all of us, as well as the inmates and their colleagues,” said Sen. David Argall (R-Schuylkill), who authored the proposal.

Argall said he believes eliminating the residency requirement would address staffing shortages. He said the shortages have resulted in more challenges for corrections officers, including mandatory overtime, increased stress, and violence.

State Department of Corrections (DOC) Sec. Laurel R. Harry announced in February that the vacancy rate for corrections officers was 4.8% by the end of January. She credited targeted recruitment efforts as a result in the vacancy rate dropping from 10.5% in late 2022.

There are 23 state prisons in Pennsylvania, including two in Argall’s district, Frackville and Mahanoy. They are both in Schuylkill County.

He said he met with the leadership of the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association (PSCOA), who support the proposal.

“And since many of our corrections facilities are located close to the border, we believe that this would provide immediate relief,” Argall said.

Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga) authored House Bill 1968 in the previous session, which also aimed to eliminate the residency requirement for corrections officers. In his co-sponsorship memo, he noted that SCI Somerset, SCI Chester, SCI Waymart and SCI Phoenix are close to bordering states.

Argall’s proposal will now advance to the full Senate for consideration.

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