Pike County Correctional Facility Receives Best Practices Award for its Recidivism Reduction Programs

The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) recently announced recipients of its 2020 Criminal Justice System for the 21st Century Best Practices Awards. The Pike County Correctional Facility (PCCF) received the Best Practices Award in the small jail category in recognition of its Model Recidivism Reduction Programs.

The Best Practices Award was presented virtually during the October 21 Pike County Commissioners meeting to PCCF Warden Craig Lowe and his staff by Janine L. Quigley, CJM, Warden of the Berks County Jail System and Chair of the CCAP Committee on County Criminal Justice Systems for the 21st Century.
“I would like to thank CCAP for this distinct honor. I also thank the Commissioners, Prison Board, volunteers, staff, Reentry Coalition and our contracted employees for making our facility programs a complete success,” says Warden Lowe. “Together we continue to help offenders get back on their feet and have successful outcomes.  I am proud of our team and thank everyone for working together for the betterment of others.”

Beginning in 2002, to reduce recidivism at a local level, PCCF proactively developed and implemented a unique suite of offender programs, which have been successfully providing tools for personal betterment, preparation for release and rehabilitation.

The correctional facility's core Recidivism Reduction Programs include: A.R.R.O.W. (Actively Reducing Recidivism Opens Windows); C.O.R.E (Correctional Offenders Reintegrating Effectively); H.O.P.E (Helping Offenders Promote Excellence); and M.O.R.E. (Motivating Offenders to Reintegrate Effectively).
“Under the leadership of Warden Lowe and Assistant Wardens Robert McLaughlin and Jonathan Romance, the team at PCCF works hard every day to maintain a disciplined and safe correctional environment while providing offenders with tools for societal success upon release. We congratulate Warden Lowe and his dedicated team on this well-deserved honor,” say the Pike County Commissioners.

Offenders at PCCF currently have access to the skills and expertise of approximately 100 volunteers who assist in offering more than 90 programs, which play a central role in PCCF’s exceptionally low recidivism rate.

According to the United States Department of Justice, nationally the rate of recidivism hovers at about 70%; however, the PCCF recidivism rate over the last 3 years is 19%.

“The criminal justice system is meant to rehabilitate, but incarcerated individuals are often repeat and returning offenders. A high recidivism rate burdens correctional facilities, taxpayers, communities, and families. We again commend the staff at the Pike County Correctional Facility for their efforts to equip offenders during incarceration with the skills and motivation needed to contribute to society in sustainable, mutually beneficial ways as returning citizens,” add the Commissioners.


The Virtual Awards Presentation