City of Philadelphia - File #: 120194

• File #: 120194
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 3/8/2012
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 3/15/2012
• Title: Authorizing Council's Committee on Public Safety to investigate and hold hearings on the impact of prioritizing prison space in secure facilities for violent offenders and offenders with illegal guns as a means of decreasing serious crimes while examining the efficiency and effectiveness of alternative means of housing non-violent and low risk offenders.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Henon

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
3/15/2012	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
3/8/2012	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed On Next Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass

Title
Authorizing Council's Committee on Public Safety to investigate and hold hearings on the impact of prioritizing prison space in secure facilities for violent offenders and offenders with illegal guns as a means of decreasing serious crimes while examining the efficiency and effectiveness of alternative means of housing non-violent and low risk offenders.
Body
WHEREAS, Philadelphia is confronted with an epidemic of violent crimes and a proliferation of illegal guns; and

WHEREAS, The Mayor, District Attorney and members of City Council have committed to reducing illegal guns and violent crimes by targeting such offenders for no bail or high bail; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Prison System currently operates six large facilities located along the State Road corridor with five satellite facilities throughout the City; and

WHEREAS, The total number of beds available in all facilities is 7,511; and

WHEREAS, Due to the current population levels in all facilities an additional 1,486 temporary beds are currently in use; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 49% of male inmates and 46% of female inmates are classified as violent offenders charged with crimes against persons; and

WHEREAS, The average daily cost to house an inmate in secure facilities is $114.86 per inmate; and

WHEREAS, Additional space may be needed in secure detention facilities to hold violent offenders and offenders with illegal guns; and

WHEREAS, The five satellite facilities are designated for low risk inmates serving weekend and work release sentences; and

WHEREAS, There are non-violent, low risk offenders occupying space in secure facilities awaiting trail because they do not have the funds to post bail; and

WHEREAS, There are non-violent, low risk offenders serving county time in our secure facilities; and

WHEREAS, These offenders and the public may be better served by placing them in minimum security facilities or rigorous alternative pre-trial detention or sentenc...