Petition Started To Remove Warden Laura Williams — A petition was started, May 16, on Change.Org to remove embattled Laura Williams as warden of Delaware County’s George Hill Prison.
It was filed by an Al Johnson.
“If there is no immediate change soon either an incarcerated person or a staff member is going to be seriously hurt,” Johnson says. “We are losing employees daily due to unfair treatment by administration, a grievance procedure that allows the warden to serve write ups at any given time even as far back as 2022, no active responses to complaints of harassment from staff, unilaterally creating new rules without bargaining with the union and an inability bargain a fair contract with the union.”
As of 2:10 this afternoon, May 20, it has 286 signatures with 251 signing today.
Ms. Williams’ tenure since her appointment Jan. 31, 2022, has been beset by suicides, murders, and general violence. Correctional officers have been speaking almost monthly at County Council meetings about declining conditions and increasing danger.
Ms. Williams appointment was itself problematic. It was made three months before the County took the prison over from The GEO Group. Hill had been privately managed since 1998.
Ms. Williams previous job had been as as chief deputy warden at Allegheny County Jail where she was the subject of numerous complaints. She started her career in corrections in 2014 as a substance abuse counselor.
So why did Delco hire her? Maybe the five who made the decision though it hip. It certainly has been unfortunate.
Here’s the link to the petition: https://www.change.org/p/remove-warden-laura-williams-from-delaware-county-jail
