Construction is moving along at a healthy pace for the new prison near Shamokin.
The old facility was destroyed by fire almost four years ago. The new prison is set to open sometime near this Labor Day.
John Wetzel, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Secretary, recently toured the prison which will have a 300-inmate capacity, including 60 to 80 females.
The property will also house a drug rehabilitation/detox facility, a project between eight counties.
“They’re going to have detox beds right next to their county prison. That’s awesome,” Wetzel told WNEP News.
Some prisoners will have the choice of either serving time behind bars or going into a rehab program.
Currently, Northumberland County inmates are serving their time at various facilities around Pennsylvania.
