Jerry Sandusky transferred to maximum-security prison
Former Penn State assistant football coach and convicted pedophile Jerry Sandusky was transferred Wednesday to a Pennsylvania state maximum-security prison.
According to CentreDaily.com, Sandusky was transferred for security reasons. The 68-year-old Sandusky will be confined to a prison cell for 22 to 23 hours of each day at the 1,800-bed State Correctional Institution in Greene, Pa., located in the southwestern part of the state, about 25 miles from Sandusky's hometown of Washington, Pa. The prison houses most of Pennsylvania's death-row inmates.
"Given the high-profile nature of this individual, coupled with the nature of his crimes, this makes him very vulnerable in a prison setting," said state corrections secretary John Wetzel in a statement.
By virtue of the transfer, Sandusky will in essence spend the rest of his life in solitary confinement, barring any further legal actions or appeals. He is serving a 30-to-60-year sentence for a variety of sexual crimes against several young boys during his time at Penn State.
Sandusky's attorney, Joe Amendola, is reportedly examining the nature of the transfer and what he will do next on behalf of his client, the web site noted.
In the hour or two that he will be allowed out of his prison cell each day, Sandusky will have extra supervision and escorts, according to Pennsylvania Corrections Department spokesperson Susan McNaughton. He will be allowed one hour of exercise per day and can shower three times per week. He also will be allowed to have personal property approved by prison officials, which can include a TV and radio.
Sandusky will eat all meals in his cell, and will have access to counseling, religion and medication within his cell, as well, prison officials added. While he will be allowed visitors, he will not be allowed to have any physical contact with visitors.
Sandusky is appealing his conviction and seeking a new trial based upon belief his legal team did not have adequate time to provide a defense for him on child sex abuse charges.
