Title
Authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings regarding the escape of two inmates from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on the evening of May 7, 2023, and the persistent, systemic issues within the Philadelphia Department of Prisons that made such an escape possible.
Body
WHEREAS, On the evening of Sunday, May 7, 2023, at approximately 8:30 p.m., inmates Ameen Hurst and Nasir Grant escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center ("PICC"), leaving the grounds by passing through and over outer fences; and
WHEREAS, Despite three routine headcounts, the inmates' absence did not become known to staff at the facility until the afternoon of Monday, May 8, at which time the Philadelphia Department of Prisons notified the Philadelphia Police Department and held a joint press conference to share facts and solicit the help of the public in locating the escapees; and
WHEREAS, Thanks to the thorough work of the Philadelphia Police Department's Northeast Detective Division and the United States Marshals, Grant was taken back into custody on May 11 and Hurst was rearrested on May 17, and no fewer than four other people inside and outside of PICC were charged with aiding the men's escape; and
WHEREAS, To their credit, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons immediately referred this matter to its Office of Professional Compliance for investigation, including a thorough review of security tapes, staff assignments, telephone logs, and other evidence from the time leading up to the escape and the discovery of the inmates' absence; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the Mayor and Managing Director reached out to Governor Shapiro to bring in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to conduct a security and vulnerability assessment of the facility; and
WHEREAS, While the Members of City Council eagerly await the results of these investigations, they, along with members of District Council 33 Local 159, the Pennsylvania Prison Society, of...
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