DelcoCPR has been organizing for the past two years to return our prison to public, county management. This issue impacts each and every corner of our county, though some communities are disproportionately affected, making this a racial and economic justice issue. Our organization is thrilled to see prison reform among the top priorities in this year’s county elections.
Back in the spring we invited both the Democratic and Republican County Council candidates to two forums to discuss their positions on prison reform broadly, and on deprivatization specifically. We asked all of the candidates the same questions, including whether they would agree to immediately terminate GEO Group’s contract and create a 6-month transition plan, as well as opting into Title 61, which would create a new County Jail Oversight Board. Not only did all of the Democratic candidates agree to these measures, they showed a strong commitment to returning the prison to public, county management as an essential function of good government. The Republican candidates stated that they did not have a position on deprivatization or on Title 61 at that time. When pressed, they said they would have a position by October. It is now October and the election is less than a month away. As taxpayers, we deserve to know where everyone stands on important issues which also take such a large portion of the County budget.
Additionally, we reached out to Jack Stollsteimer and Kat Copeland, both candidates for District Attorney, with a questionnaire regarding criminal justice reform in Delaware County more broadly. Jack Stollsteimer’s responses demonstrated a clear commitment to this issue campaign and echoed our concerns about other problems in the criminal justice system that need attention.
Delco CPR is a non-partisan organization and we believe that criminal justice reform is not a partisan issue. Our membership is comprised of members of multiple political parties and we appreciate all of their contributions and commitment to criminal justice reform. Our leadership thoughtfully discussed the proposition of endorsement throughout the summer. The differences between the candidates were unmistakable. And the impact that this election, particularly the county council race, would have on our deprivatization campaign was too important to sit out.
We are pleased to have several candidates whose vision for criminal justice reform align with our values. This election year, there is a clear choice and we thank these candidates for their dedication to an equitable and humane criminal justice system in our county. Therefore, the Delaware County Coalition for Prison Reform is pleased to endorse Monica Taylor, Christine Reuther, and Elaine Paul Schaefer for Delaware County Council and Jack Stollsteimer* for Delaware County District Attorney.
We believe they will work carefully and deliberately to improve conditions and accountability at George W. Hill Correctional Facility, beginning with the termination of GEO Group’s contract and the creation of a transition plan to public management.
Please mark your calendars for this very important election on November 5th and remember to go out and vote. If you’d like to volunteer or get more involved, please reach out to the candidates’ campaigns and ask how you can help. We want to ensure that we win in November and win big change for George W. Hill Correctional Facility and our brothers and sisters behind bars.
*Please note: Jack Stollsteimer is a founding member of DelcoCPR. Jack was not involved in our leadership team’s discussion and decision on making an endorsement for Delaware County District Attorney. Our endorsement of his candidacy was based on his answers to our questionnaire regarding criminal justice reform in Delaware County.