Philadelphia Prisons Chief Resigns Amid Inmate Deaths and Escapes

The chief of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, Blanche Carney, has announced her resignation following a series of inmate deaths and escapes. Carney, who has been overseeing the city's four prisons and jails since 2016, communicated her decision to the staff in a letter on Monday, citing her last day as April 5, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer. A department spokesperson also confirmed Carney's impending retirement.

Escapes and Violence Plague City's Lockups

The city's prisons have been grappling with a surge in violence and the escape of four inmates within a span of six months last year. The Pennsylvania Prison Society, which monitors the state's prisons, conducted interviews with nearly 50 inmates in Philadelphia in the past year. Their report documented the "dangerous and degrading conditions" within the city's prisons, revealing that inmates were confined to "rat-infested, caged areas, with insufficient food and healthcare for weeks or months, leading to deterioration of their mental health." The report also highlighted that ten inmates lost their lives in 2022.

Union's Vote of "No Confidence" in Carney

The Philadelphia correctional officers union expressed their lack of confidence in Carney through a unanimous vote last year. They asserted that the facilities were understaffed and in a state of "chaos."

Challenges Acknowledged by Carney

Carney, who was the first woman to serve as prisons commissioner, acknowledged the problems in her letter to the prisons staff. She attributed the challenges to the pandemic, stating that it had "caused a tremendous strain on correctional operations worldwide."