Philadelphia Prisons Commissioner Announces Retirement Amid Crisis
Blanche Carney, the first woman to lead the city's prisons, steps down following a tumultuous tenure marked by inmate deaths, escapes, and staffing shortages.
- Blanche Carney, Philadelphia's Department of Prisons commissioner since 2016, has announced her retirement effective April 5 amid a series of inmate deaths and escapes.
- A report from the Pennsylvania Prison Society highlighted 'dangerous and degrading conditions' in the prisons, including confinement to 'rat-infested, caged areas' and a lack of sufficient healthcare.
- The Philadelphia correctional officers union cast a unanimous 'no confidence' vote in Carney last year, citing chaos and staffing shortages in the facilities.
- In 2022, a federal judge appointed a monitor to oversee jail conditions due to the department's failure to meet constitutional obligations, exacerbated by a 40% job vacancy rate.
- Carney's tenure saw efforts to reduce overreliance on jails for marginalized individuals, but was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to increased violence and operational strain.
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