Delco Coalition for Prison Reform renews their commitment to deprivatize George W. Hill Correctional Facility in 2019, and establishes action steps toward returning the prison to humane and fiscally responsible public management.

Despite serious concerns about lack of transparency, understaffing, and inmate mistreatment, the unelected Delaware County Board of Prison Inspectors voted 5-0 to approve a new five-year, $264 million contract with GEO Group to run the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.

The results of a study comparing publicly vs. privately run correctional facilities has now been delayed at least 120 days, even as the contract with GEO Group is set to expire on Dec. 31st.

Delaware County Councilman Brian Zidek recently called for the county Board of Prison Inspectors to make a transition plan to public management. View a video of Councilman Zidek explaining the relationship between council and the prison board at our Public Hearing in September.

DelcoCPR and McCAUSLAND Keen + Buckman successfully pushed the Delaware County Board of Prison Inspectors to comply with the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, allowing meetings to be recorded and shared with the public.

Several local news outlets shared our Public Hearing to Deprivatize Delco’s Prison with their readers and listeners. Continue reading for excerpts.