THORNTON, P.A. (KYW Newsradio) — The prison population in Delaware County has seen a double digit decline over the last few years, and officials are crediting new efforts across government agencies as a major reason.
At the George W. Hill Correctional Facility in Thornton, the population is down nearly 40% since 2021, and county-wide, the population is down to just 1,076.
Delaware County Chief Public Defender Christopher Welsh said hiring talent in his office is one reason.
“Recruiting, training, and then retaining qualified attorney staff whose values are inline with the mission of the office,” he said.
For the first time ever, Welsh said his office is also hiring investigators to help with cases.
“Who are interviewing witnesses, collecting video, collecting evidence from cellphones. Then our attorneys are able to use that evidence in court,” he said.
The office has also hired five social workers to help clients get a host of resources they may need.
Delaware County is much in the model of Allegheny County in Western Pennsylvania, which saw its own drop in prison population after implementing similar initiatives.