How Quehanna Boot Camp Works: The Six-Month Program and What Families Should Know

Quehanna Boot Camp is a six-month, military-style disciplinary and training program - rigid, fast-paced, and highly structured. It's the only facility in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections that runs the Boot Camp Program. If someone gets approved for Boot Camp, this is where they'll be sent.

Quehanna also serves a broader role: it's the primary facility for the State Drug Treatment Program (SDTP) for both men and women. You might hear "Quehanna" mentioned in different contexts - that's because the facility supports multiple DOC programs, not just Boot Camp.

Daily life in Boot Camp follows a strict routine. Physical training is a given. Work or education fills the rest of the schedule - if your loved one doesn't have a high school diploma or GED, classes are mandatory. Treatment services round out the day. The program isn't just about physical discipline; it's designed to change habits and prepare participants for reentry.

Participants at Quehanna are called "teammates." As they move through the program, teammates can earn privileges - a built-in incentive structure that rewards progress and consistent effort over the six months.

What happens after Boot Camp ends is usually what families care about most. The answer: if a teammate successfully completes the program, they're granted automatic parole. They'll serve the rest of their sentence outside, under parole supervision.

That finish line is why the "earn as you go" approach matters. Day-to-day choices and steady participation directly shape how manageable the six months feels - and can make the difference between completing the program and not.

Remember: Quehanna isn't only a Boot Camp site. It's also the primary facility for the State Drug Treatment Program (SDTP) for both men and women. If you're seeing different program names in paperwork or conversations, that's why - Quehanna is a hub for treatment-focused placements as well as Boot Camp.

• ✓ The sentence minimum for Boot Camp candidates cannot exceed three years.
• ✓ To start the program, a candidate must be within two years of their minimum sentence date.
• ✓ Certain crimes restrict eligibility.
• ✓ A sentencing court can also make someone ineligible by stating that in the sentencing order.

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• ✓ Bring photo ID: one form of photo identification is required for adults.
• ✓ For minors, bring either a school ID with photograph or an original/certified birth certificate plus a Social Security card.
• ✓ Expect security screening: all visitors are subject to searches, and you must pass a metal detector within three attempts.
• ✓ Leave tobacco behind: Quehanna Boot Camp is tobacco-free, and no tobacco products are permitted in the visiting room or on facility grounds.
• ✓ Don’t risk a permanent ban: anyone caught trying to introduce (or who introduces) drugs or contraband will be banned from visiting any Pennsylvania Department of Corrections facility.
• ✓ For graduation ceremonies, don’t arrive more than one hour early, and make sure you’re on the inmate’s approved visitors list with proper ID.