Prison More Expensive And Dangerous Under Delco Control — George W. Hill Prison is a major reason for Delaware County’s (Pa.) looming 23.8 percent tax hike and was a subject at the Dec. 4, Council meeting.
The county took over the prison from GEO Group in April 2022 and hired Laura Williams as warden.
The choice was puzzling as her previous job had been as as chief deputy warden at Allegheny County Jail where she was the subject of numerous complaints, and she only started her career in corrections in 2014 as a substance abuse counselor.
Anyway, since the county took over and her tenure started, Hill has been a place of turmoil and a money pit.
Delco is now spending $13 million more for George W. Hill Prison despite having a third fewer inmates.
Inmates have died horrific deaths and those tasked with watching them are demoralized.
Last night, Kimberly Brown of Colwyn, an outspoken caseworker at the facility, said the turnover is unreal and the county doesn’t care.
Several major positions are unfilled. She said the majority of inmates are not from Delco.
She said it’s freezing in the jail and bathrooms barely work due to low water pressure.
Ms. Brown often appears before Council. She says every time she speaks she is called into administration and grilled by a lawyer.
Also speaking was Al Johnson of Morton, a correctional service officer at Hill. He confirmed Ms. Brown’s claim that retaliation is routinely practiced against whistleblowers and that he has been subject to it.
This did not stop him from criticizing Ms. Williams, however. He said contract negotiations with her went nowhere for two-and-a-half years until County Executive Director Barbara O’Malley became involved. He said in about five months about three-quarters of the issues have been settled, thanks to her.
Maybe the most concerning thing in Johnson’s three minutes — see here starting at 3:25 — was an implication that Ms. Williams was in an inappropriate relationship with Councilman Kevin Madden.
Madden is Council’s prison liasion.
“Do you know (Warden Williams) recently had us sign papers to let you know who’s involved in a relationship?” Johnson said. “So after two and a half years after the county has come in now they’re worried about who is in a relationship with who. So I’m wondering if Mr. Madden and the Warden got that same paper. I’m wondering if the deputy warden got that paper as well.”
He said Council has given the Warden has “full immunity to do whatever she wants around here.”
“But we’re suffering. We are stressed beyond stressed and we are getting no relief from leadership,” shouted Johnson. “As a matter of fact she is tightening the noose harder around our neck. When are you guys going to get involved with this situation and say enough is enough.”
A similar point was made by Tevin Dix of Haverford, a few speakers earlier. While Dix’s comments appear to have been cut from the official video, they can be found on Facebook.
