DEVELOPING 3 p.m. HAZMAT and emergency crews have been called to the Probation and Parole Board building in the 200 block of East 18th Street. We are waiting to learn more about the situation.

UPDATE 2:12 p.m. All state correctional institutions have been locked down because multiple staff members have become sick from unknown substances over the past few weeks, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary John Wetzel announced Wednesday afternoon.

The DOC is also taking the following steps now until further notice:

  • All DOC mailrooms are closed to non-legal mail until further notice.
  • Use of personal protective equipment, especially gloves, is MANDATORY for ALL employees.
  • Training on situational awareness will be held immediately in all institutions.
  • All visits are suspended for the length of the lock down.

Prison staff is also asked to use extra caution when parole violators and new commits are brought in

HAZMAT and other first responders were called to SCI Albion for five prison staff members who reportedly fell ill after being exposed to an unknown substance late Wednesday morning.

It started with an officer who was processing a parole violator into the prison reported he was feeling sick, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

That's when medical staff responded to provide care. Three nurses reported they were not feeling well, as well as another officer, the Department of Corrections said.

All five were taken to the hospital to be checked out as a precautionary measure.

SCI Albion has been locked down as of 11:34 a.m.

State Police and Erie County Emergency Management has been contacted and are responding to the institution.

In Pennsylvania, two corrections officers at SCI Somerset reported feeling dazed and lethargic Wednesday after escorting an inmate to the prison's medical department. Both were taken to a local hospital.

It comes the same day as 23 staff members and an inmate at the Ross Correctional Institution in Ohio began showing signs of a drug overdose and had to undergo treatment.