A new report summarizing recent walkthroughs of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility (GWH) in Delaware County comes at a critical time: the county has committed $50 million to a long-overdue capital improvement project, and appointed a new warden. At the same time, the jail has too few staff for the number of people in custody.
The Prison Society's report validates progress on significant building repairs and a generally positive impression on new Warden Willie Bonds. At the same time, it details the fundamentally unsafe conditions that Bonds now has the responsibility for fixing — conditions will not be fixed with building repairs alone but will require major shifts in organizational culture.
Massive building repairs underway
Prison Society staff and volunteers toured GWH extensively in November and then returned in January to see two units, one of which was in the final stages of renovation. On the November walkthrough, which included structured interviews with 33 incarcerated men and 26 incarcerated women across three housing units, the jail was without permanent leadership, former Warden Laura Williams having left on September 5th, 2025.
In the initial tour, the majority of the building appeared clean and well-functioning — hallways, corridors, and housing units were painted, well lit, and free of trash or debris. However, conditions were significantly different in the Restricted Housing Unit (RHU), which had flooding and plumbing issues and broken locks on cell doors.
By our return in January with Delaware County Representatives Jennifer O'Mara and Heather Boyd, the county had appointed Warden Bonds, and the two general housing units we toured had updated flooring, painted walls, new showerheads, and upgraded lighting in the renovated unit. We also saw security upgrades, including large new exterior locks on each cell door, new computer systems in the control area where Corrections Officers (COs) observe incarcerated people, and a new buzzer system that allows COs to communicate with people from their cells.
These facility upgrades are part of the jail’s capital improvement project that started last year. Under the current plan, GWH is renovating one unit at a time, with the entire project slated for completion in fall 2027.
Not enough staff for the number of people in custody
In the Prison Society's November walkthrough, approximately half of the people we interviewed said they were allowed out of their cells on a daily basis — meaning many residents are locked in for 24 hours or longer. Slightly more than half of respondents said that when they are allowed out, it is for fewer than five hours per day.
When incarcerated people are locked in their cells, they are unable not only to participate in recreational activities but also to complete basic tasks like calling loved ones, filing sick requests, or showering.
Both an incarcerated person we interviewed and Warden Bonds attributed this issue in part to too few staff for the number of people in custody. The jail reports a security staff vacancy rate of 18%. A shortage of correctional officers has impacted facilities across the country.
“Half the time we get burned on rec[reation] because they don’t have enough staff,” said one interviewee.
Warden Bonds described the issue as an “ongoing challenge” the facility is working to address.
A majority of people interviewed also reported that correctional officers weren’t available at night or on weekends, which is particularly problematic if an incarcerated person has an emergency during these times and there isn't a staff member to respond.
Staff assaults at GWH also continue to be an issue, with more than half of interviewees reporting they had witnessed a staff assault or experienced one themselves.
Leadership matters
"If the Eagles have multiple losing seasons, there is going to be a call for a leadership change, not just repairs to the Linc," says Prison Society Executive Director Claire Shubik-Richards. While the Prison Society is heartened to see the much-needed investment in facility repairs, even those renovations will deteriorate without a culture that values health and hygiene.
“You can spend a lot of money, but maintaining the good condition — that is what I'm curious about. How much longer will they be able to maintain the conditions?” said Prison Society staffer Dzemila Bilanovic, who led the January visit for legislators to GWH.
Warden Bonds appears dedicated and focused on the right things. “Moving forward, we anticipate continuing our shared interest in strengthening the values of this agency. 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 wrote in response to reviewing the Prison Society's report.
The Prison Society looks forward to working with Warden Bonds to address the ongoing challenges at GWH so that Delaware County can have a safer, more humane, and more accountable prison.
You can read the complete walkthrough findings here.
