PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia City Council hearing on the escape last month of two men from Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center provided little new information about the prison break. But a disturbing picture of the city’s prison system, and the lives of corrections officers, emerged as the hearing exposed the consequences of chronic understaffing at Philly’s five prisons.
Department of Prisons Commissioner Blanche Carney said she couldn’t reveal information that would compromise the investigation of the escape, but she acknowledged that an external alarm didn’t sound when 19-year-old Ameen Hurst — who is suspected in four murders — and alleged drug dealer Nasir Grant, 24, made it out of the prison on May 7, and that guards were not at posts on the perimeter of the building — a lapse she said has since been corrected.
“We implemented, immediately following perimeter patrols, both foot and vehicular patrols,” Carney said.
She said the escape went unnoticed for 19 hours because head counts were not conducted properly.
Underlying all of that, she said, is 35% staff vacancy rate. Out of 2,200 positions budgeted, the jails have only 1,300 guards.
“At its current staffing level, PDP is unable to fully reopen its facilities and unable to resume programs provided to the incarcerated population,” the commissioner said.
Carney said she is focused on retention and recruitment, including raises and signing bonuses, in hopes of restoring full staffing.
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But David Robinson, president of the correctional officers’ union, said the staff shortages have a serious impact, including unmanned units at the prisons and 19-hour days for guards. Robinson described facilities thick with smoke from synthetic marijuana, causing officers to get sick or pass out. He said guards had been knocked unconscious and sexually assaulted.
One guard, Jeffrey Bishop, testified that he’d been stabbed on the job.
“My members have been screaming for help for years,” he said. “You put your life on the line every day. It’s like Daniel going into the lion’s den,” Robinson said.
He said the blame falls on poor management.
“When officers high tail it outta here for better work, leadership has to take accountability,” he said.
District Attorney Larry Krasner told Council members his investigation into the escape would be wrapped up within 90 days. Council promised to reconvene within that time frame.
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