CAMP HILL, Pa. (WHTM) -
For the first time in its 71-year history, the State Correctional Institute at Camp Hill has a female superintendent.
Laurel Harry, 40, assumed the post three weeks ago after being appointed by Corrections Secretary John Wetzel and Governor Tom Corbett.
Harry is a former deputy superintendent at state prisons in both Waynesburg and Graterford with 16 years of experience in the corrections system. She has a masters degree from West Virginia University in counseling and specializes in drug and alcohol treatment.
In a sit-down interview with abc27 News on Wednesday, she talked about being the first woman to hold the position.
"It doesn't change how I operate or how I do business," she said. "It doesn't change my management style. It gives me a more heightened awareness of maybe perceptions of the inmate population and the staff."
Harry said her main philosophy for corrections is "treatment," and plans to work with Secretary Wetzel to implement new programs to prepare inmates for release.
"If you look at the big picture of inmates going back into society, you want them better prepared than when they came in," Harry said.
Having already worked as a program manager at SCI Camp Hill in 2008, Harry said she's looking forward to re-acclimating with her old co-workers.
"I know there are a lot of people who are employed here who one day may aspire to be sitting in this seat, so I'm very conscious of that."
