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PHILADELPHIA - A new report published today by the Pennsylvania Prison Society has found that the George W. Hill Correctional Facility, Delaware County’s jail, continues to face a litany of challenges that impact the quality of life of people incarcerated and working there while making some notable improvements under new Warden Willie Bonds.
The Prison Society acts as a monitor for Pennsylvania’s prisons and jails, advocating for the health, safety, and dignity of people in custody. The report is based on two walkthroughs made by the organization’s staff and volunteers, one in November and a follow up in January with state Representatives Jennifer O’Mara and Heather Boyd.
During the November walkthrough, the Prison Society team interviewed 33 incarcerated men and 26 women across three housing units. Among the challenges, only half of the people interviewed reported being allowed out of their cells on a daily basis, and slightly more than half said that, when they are out of their cells, they are out for less than five hours at a time. A majority of those interviewed also reported witnessing staff assaulting incarcerated people.
The Prison Society did report noticeable improvements in the physical condition of a majority of the building, with updated flooring, painted walls, new showerheads, and upgraded lighting in two units, though the restricted housing unit was plagued by significant issues with plumbing and heating. These facility upgrades are part of the jail’s capital improvement project that started last year.
"If the Eagles have multiple losing seasons, there is going to be a call for a leadership change, not just repairs to the Linc," said Prison Society Executive Director Claire Shubik-Richards. “While we are heartened to see the much-needed investment in facility repairs, even those renovations will deteriorate without a culture that values health and hygiene.”
The organization submitted their report to Warden Bonds on February 5 and released it to county officials this week. Bonds attributed the problem of keeping people locked in their cells to a lack of staffing; the jail currently has a vacancy rate of 18% among security staff.
When incarcerated people are locked in their cells 24 hours per day, as many are at the jail, they are unable to complete basic tasks, like calling loved ones, filing sick requests, or showering, and they miss recreational time, which is critical for both physical and mental health. A majority of those interviewed also reported that correctional officers are frequently unavailable on weekends and at night, creating a security and health risk in emergency situations.
The Prison Society’s walkthroughs occurred at a time of leadership transition at the jail. In November, former Warden Laura Williams had left her position, and a permanent replacement had not yet been named. When the organization visited along with the state legislators in January, the county had appointed Bonds to his current position.
“Moving forward, we anticipate continuing our shared interest in strengthening the values of this agency,” Warden Bonds wrote in response to reviewing the Prison Society's report. “We remain committed to providing a safe, secure, and humane environment for staff, visitors, and incarcerated people, while offering evidence-based, innovative programming aimed at reducing recidivism.”
“Warden Bonds appears dedicated and focused on the right things,” Shubik-Richards said. “We look forward to working with him to address the ongoing challenges at the jail so that Delaware County can have a safer, more humane, and more accountable prison.”
The report that the Prison Society submitted to Bonds and county officials is available at this link.
