Convicted pedophile Jerry Sandusky essentially will spend the rest of his life in solitary confinement.
Sandusky, 68, was transferred today to a maximum-security state prison in southwestern Pennsylvania where he will be confined to his cell for all but one hour a day as he serves his 30-to-60-year sentence.
The former Penn State football coach will be in “protective custody” at State Correctional Institution at Greene, which is outside Waynesburg, Greene County, and houses many of the state’s death-row inmates.
Prison officials assigned Sandusky to restricted housing like this out of concern for his safety from other 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.
Last week, the former Penn State football coach was taken from the Centre County Correctional Facility to the state prison processing center in Camp Hill to evaluate which prison would suit his needs the best.
Sandusky’s attorney Joe Amendola said he is analyzing the assignment and will consider what to do next.
Corrections Department spokeswoman Susan McNaughton said Sandusky will spend 22 to 23 hours a day in his cell, and when he is out, he will have extra supervision and escort.
Sandusky will be allowed one hour of exercise a day and showers three times a week. Sandusky can have a TV, radio and other personal property with permission from the prison.
Meals will be served in his cell, as are other prison services like counseling, religion and medication.
He is allowed visitors, but they will be no-contact visits.
Sandusky is asking for a new trial on the grounds his attorneys did not have enough time to prepare his defense on child sex abuse charges.
SCI-Greene is an 1,800 bed facility and houses most of the state’s death-row inmates. It’s about 25 miles south of Sandusky’s hometown of Washington.
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