A former employee of the State Correctional Institution at Rockview was charged last week with violating a section of the institutional sexual assault code by having the child of an inmate.

The State College resident, Sara Craig, 33, was a psychological services associate. She gave birth in May 2000. Prison officials received information in June that the father of the child was an inmate. DNA tests proved the accusation to be correct, police said.

Police suspect Craig engaged in an intimate relationship with an inmate during their counseling sessions.

Jeff Rackovan, assistant to the superintendent at Rockview, said inmates can either request psychological assistance or prison authorities may require a prisoner to seek help if a certain issue needs to be addressed. Sessions are usually held in a room where authorities oversee the counseling, while other sessions are held one-on-one.

Rackovan was unable to give information about the circumstances of Craig and the inmate's counseling and would not comment on the length of time Craig worked with the inmate.

The institutional sexual assault code Craig is accused of violating was established in Pennsylvania in February 1999. According to the code, employees of a correctional institution are prohibited from engaging in any sexual contact with inmates.

District Attorney Ray Gricar said the Craig case is the first in Centre County to be prosecuted under the institutional sexual assault code. Charges for the first-degree misdemeanor violation were filed with District Justice Hoffman. Craig did not have an arraignment, but she has received a summons for a preliminary hearing on March 21.

Rackovan said whether or not the inmate is reprimanded for the incident depends upon the results of the case.

"Until the case is completely sorted, we can't say if he will receive an institutional discipline," Rackovan said. "He has had no institutional sanctions against him at this point, but that is not to say he won't."

Gricar said the inmate committed no crime, and therefore he would not be prosecuted by the judicial system.

Rackovan would not comment on who the inmate is, nor would he say what the inmate was incarcerated for. Rackovan also said "congenial visits" are not permitted in any correctional facility in Pennsylvania.

Rockview is a medium security prison. Certain inmates are permitted to leave the grounds for work and come back at night. However, Rackovan said only 5 to 10 percent of the inmates are allowed to leave the grounds.