BERKS COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) - Nine juvenile inmates have escaped the Abraxas Academy, a "secure youth treatment" facility in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, located less than 10 miles from the Lancaster County border.
Pennsylvania State Police say the youths escaped around 8 p.m. on Sunday night.
The nine inmates are juvenile-aged males last known to be wearing white/gray shirts and shorts.
According to the Robeson Township Police Department, anyone in the area of Interstate 176 and Route 10 should be vigilant.
Anyone with information is being asked to call 911 immediately.
According to the Abraxas Academy website, the facility provides "Secure Residential Treatment and Secure Detention Services" for delinquent male juveniles ages 14-18 in 9th grade or above.
The incident comes amid a recent rash of escapes at Pennsylvania jails and youth treatment facilities. In May, inmates Ameen Hurst and Nasir Grant escaped the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center with a 19 hour head start until officials realized they were gone.
In July, Michael Burham was arrested after police say he escaped from the Warren County Jail. He was captured after a manhunt that lasted over a week.
On August 31 Danelo Cavalcante escaped the Chester County Prison by crabwalking up a wall and pushing through razor wire. The convicted murderer was arrested after a nearly two week manhunt during which State Police say he stole a firearm.
On September 3 a violent juvenile was captured after escaping from Loysville Youth Development Center in Perry County.
Former Pennsylvania Corrections Secretary John Wetzel says he sees a trend and the culprit is not enough correctional officers and that those who are working are underpaid.
“If you’re someone who traditionally corrections systems would target to work as a correctional officer and you can make the same or more money working at Sheetz versus working a block, right? So the market has changed and corrections hasn’t caught up.”
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