[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6692513,"mediaKeyId","5739176-f592c3cb3f12a0e8b0aa867fdf4a4e54","parentId",5739176,"title","Roof, HVAC and surveillance upgrades at George W. Hill jail now expected in January","audioSeconds",189,"startMs",892000,"endMs",1081000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5739176-f592c3cb3f12a0e8b0aa867fdf4a4e54&start=892&end=1081","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5739176-f592c3cb3f12a0e8b0aa867fdf4a4e54/thumbnail_892000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6692513/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/Roof-HVAC-and-surveillance-upgrades-at-George-W-Hill-jail-now-expected-in-January","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6692513-c1c6bc6e6204359aa247a6cf8ae928b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770729020&Signature=L2uMsIaVlJP6CAQbkVEWMLgQkzdAioOJIRFt0FoYYCIkxCV5ukM7TUBDgunxJsBj~7wETfahCbR8Zm7TAZWY4iXCxndRtwAxbJglJrs6JjNol7J10mC01EY21W5EwhnckQhG~BQqql8enBKTW4q~yiHTPwPCgI43LZLzuflyRrhYYuspdwLDmzoRARBU3IHpxNael5khpksYpKklwa7jbKWRR611szvHxHxbYWPk6Rw1rApsqul-4PXRlLHsLYsJ7aeO8QFGINq2elHlDIclrV3dvPsNULQ2Rnd8FD94jGwQEKu~ZLdXZ6TRNtNc8bg2DDWEOhzQ~8uWtgwxALUwCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Delaware County, PA","date","2025-01-02T18:55:10Z","article","Delaware County corrections leadership reported on Sept. 9 that two major capital projects at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility — a roof repair and HVAC replacement, and an electronic security and surveillance upgrade — remain underway and now have completion milestones in January 2026.

Deputy Chief Wharton Bonds said the roof repair and HVAC replacement project was “moving along quite well” but that the final housing-unit work originally scheduled for completion in December has been pushed into January “due to some additional work that was not anticipated originally.”

On the electronic security and surveillance project, Bonds said the facility is about four months into the work and expects “phase 1 will be completed by early January,” which the facility views as a major milestone. “When phase 1 is completed, we will have our major upgrade to our exterior or perimeter security. We will have a new radio system and new radios in place. We will have one housing unit that’s up and running with the new cameras, new locking mechanisms, new showers, pretty much the whole nine. We’ll have a new master control area up and running,” Bonds said.

Board members asked about testing and how the renovated housing unit would be repopulated. Bonds said vendor testing is already underway and that the facility will sweep units for tools or contraband and run its own tests before repopulating. Staff training on new panels and locks will be completed in advance and likely continue for about a week after turnover. “We do have the space, so we’re not gonna rush it. We’re gonna make sure that everything’s in place and in order before we move any incarcerated people onto that unit,” Bonds said.

The board heard that the security phase includes new cameras, locking mechanisms and showers for at least one housing unit; a new master control area; and upgraded perimeter systems and radio communications. Leadership did not provide a final budget update in the meeting minutes for either project.

Ending — Facility leadership said they will continue to update the board monthly as testing and installations proceed and as more precise turnover dates are set for each renovated unit.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Jail Oversight Board Meeting 9.9.25 4:30p","oneSentenceSummary","Officials told the Delaware County Jail Oversight Board that the roof/HVAC repair timeline slipped from December to January and that the electronic security and surveillance project’s first phase should be completed by early January, including perimeter upgrades, new radios and a new master control area.","taxTitle","Delaware County, Pennsylvania","taxId",52111,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6692515,"Delaware County jail leadership shifts to interim team as state finalizes warden appointment",185,196000,381000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5739176-f592c3cb3f12a0e8b0aa867fdf4a4e54&start=196&end=381","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5739176-f592c3cb3f12a0e8b0aa867fdf4a4e54/thumbnail_196000.jpg","/articles/6692515/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/Delaware-County-jail-leadership-shifts-to-interim-team-as-state-finalizes-warden-appointment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6692515-14c1123034d79b9255998520542d4366/orig.mp4?Expires=1770729020&Signature=llLzqDMfWKO31cM6pW4MznjRUMfPDB12pQDn63iSg3klvZ0Y0HUEak~ZSBJUlZkwaqWUof73ib~d8TgvsPS6pxTeJSA9zqLqq9lkA5YtgnZC3I25hUYDX2DsIqpPq9uOMgoaEQfG8hY1J9Nlgdvsnb78XHbLlATgRFYTmEP6bIRvv~CLT4FfOz7yG7cTJ~cetlr2YaBFgP8SfRrttSkXMUOWJPuVF8tL5W~1hoJ~YgMkcPnBnDGhIwauC1MlexX7SGQ8UjhVAxFKaQTacvsN0fa2XpNbJ8fzFCray1xumZCb5wBaSeZ07QT7jqJXNxJx5F-hd4T9wFVUoy5CksUtUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Delaware County’s Jail Oversight Board on Sept. 9 heard updates on leadership changes at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility after Warden Laura Williams’ resignation.

Board Chair called the meeting to order and said the board held an executive session on Sept. 9 “related to construction ongoing at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility, matters related to investigations ongoing at the prison, and personnel matters,” and then opened the meeting’s leadership update.

Executive Director (unnamed) reported that two internal interim appointments are in place: Deputy Bonds has been named interim chief deputy warden and Major Leach has been assigned as interim deputy warden for security and training. “Those will be two interim roles that will be in place while we conduct a search for a warden,” the executive director said.

Chief Deputy Wharton Bonds, who is serving as interim chief deputy warden, reintroduced himself to the board and summarized his background and immediate priorities. Bonds said the county is working with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to identify an individual to serve as the interim warden and that the state has “conducted this process where they outreach to their facilities to identify persons that might be interested, conducting interviews and working on an agreement with the county to facilitate having a person come in as interim warden.” He said paperwork was expected to be completed within the week and that the interim appointee should have a “rapid start date.”

Major Leach, newly in the interim deputy warden for security and training role, thanked the board and said he would focus on maintaining safety and continuing training operations. “My goal is for us to remain focused on moving forward in the right direction and continue to enhance the process that has already begun by ensuring we maintain a safe and secure correctional facility,” Leach said.

The executive director also told the board the county is finalizing a job description for the permanent warden and will post the position and conduct a search intended to identify a candidate who “will meet the needs of this jail oversight board, the facility, and the staff.” The board chair said final approval of an interim state-appointed warden is expected to be handled in advance of, and officially recorded at, next month’s board meeting.

No formal vote was taken on the interim internal assignments during the meeting; the board postponed formal approval of any interim warden pending completion of paperwork with the state.

The board and staff emphasized continuity during the transition and said they would share updates with the oversight board as documents are finalized and candidates are identified.

Ending — The board scheduled continued oversight of leadership updates and the permanent warden search and said it will be apprised in advance of any interim state appointment and will address formal appointments at the next monthly meeting.","After Warden Laura Williams resigned, Delaware County Jail announced interim internal appointments and said the state Department of Corrections is processing paperwork for an interim warden; a permanent search will follow.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6692507,"Board to review inmate welfare fund uses after audit; public raises concerns about stipend and maintenance hiring",1763,1155000,2918000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5739176-f592c3cb3f12a0e8b0aa867fdf4a4e54&start=1155&end=2918","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5739176-f592c3cb3f12a0e8b0aa867fdf4a4e54/thumbnail_1155000.jpg","/articles/6692507/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/Board-to-review-inmate-welfare-fund-uses-after-audit-public-raises-concerns-about-stipend-and-maintenance-hiring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6692507-69b6a87a4030c61c710462ad7f84cd3e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770729020&Signature=ewErLHoTOIjtS1pysGMRr5u5HawGH~Ho~F3sNE28gaQK1k1nHOUAGJnWuTtJD3Aim0KkfIcb10wdtDb94szHPtlFAKBLJqwuZRUkjtGmdWJiR4H5V8hEjnrE53GZ-Nrt4dE9W81s3Vsc-Z4ZjMUR-F~vFjaLDg6qa14mUuxy0pSS5BhmIeSOYgSiQ79roIe4F27HOS2N2-EYQ6FarjztMtq8oue3Zpz7B-b-ISW0LF7Md0C84-g1zQ3S2~TalnAsWP0Qck5FcMQ7YIj0iqcZOjkPXVv101~qdrMsHAGRPbN~MU5s1ibno1AwRx9wCg6s65ZnOUbRVMDt7ztdDPE5mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Delaware County officials reported on Sept. 9 that the balance of the MA Welfare Fund (also referred to in discussion as the inmate welfare/trust fund) stood at $4,500,000 and said internal audits of the fund are complete and under review.

A board member working with internal auditors said the audits — statutorily required, the member said — have been conducted in the county controller’s office and that staff are comparing other counties’ policies for permissible uses. “We do financial audits of the Inmate Welfare Fund and Trust Fund… the audits are done, they’re sitting on my desk, and I’ve gotta get them out,” the board member said. The member said they are reviewing Lancaster County and York County policies as examples and believe the fund could be used for additional items in line with law.

Board member Kitchor Hoopes (identified in the transcript) noted two requests raised in an outside report card: drinking cups and shower slippers for incarcerated people. Hoopes asked staff and the solicitor to review whether the MA Welfare Fund could finance those items and suggested the board aim for an answer by the next monthly meeting.

Executive Director (unnamed) and other staff said they are receptive and will examine purchasing and procurement implications, including whether procurement volumes would change pricing and whether any legal impediments exist. “I would think that those are items that would be appropriate for that fund, but we’ll wait to hear back,” an official said.

During the second public comment period, Kimberly Brown (Toddwin) criticized the appointment and role of Joe McCreery, who was identified earlier in the meeting as having 41 years of service and as a facility maintenance resource, and alleged the maintenance hiring and contractor arrangements show bias. Brown also alleged that an incarcerated person held for 30 days did not receive the $25 stipend and asked for an audit of how the inmate fund is administered and how stipends are distributed.

Officials told the board they will complete a legal review with the solicitor’s office and staff and will aim to report back at the next meeting with recommendations and a determination whether the requested items and any other permissible uses should be adopted.

Ending — Board members directed staff to continue the audit review, consult the solicitor, and return with a recommendation by next month on permissible purchases and any operational changes to stipend distribution.","Board members said internal audits of the inmate welfare (MA Welfare) fund are complete and the county is studying how other counties use similar funds; the fund balance was reported at $4.5 million. A public commenter alleged maintenance hiring bias and said an incarcerated person did not receive a $25 stipend.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6692510,"Jail reports steady MOUD enrollment, multiple reentry and training program graduations",1238,1088000,2326000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5739176-f592c3cb3f12a0e8b0aa867fdf4a4e54&start=1088&end=2326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5739176-f592c3cb3f12a0e8b0aa867fdf4a4e54/thumbnail_1088000.jpg","/articles/6692510/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/Jail-reports-steady-MOUD-enrollment-multiple-reentry-and-training-program-graduations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6692510-1291aa37a2d335d704e1ce80f4c38441/orig.mp4?Expires=1770729020&Signature=lNeu~OEcS-CxndNaHFBStwbf-qtKtk3rEuwcuVHIaqJf3CSlMTEu9fOcrd3nanU3KlU-wBPueOj6NRR6LqjnTr0L8aPC-HXQOv0tWUm35uEGbMsvKGwn~n4gCshSZjmBisl7p1GFfU9pmN4a7iZsQ5OoNMeqRTbL1AJdECx~rWSktZ7-qkuSZ5dsCfW5kRmDGPEMx5bp0jnzaZuzMo4CYD-IVoo61dOyGodch8L6xEeIbYPUn-n0J9P7R0czx6X6uIHMKBWi7uMBFN7-eiqPJC1nNBgh7wjPZrglJ-fS8kYrCR1dkiSyKiRKPuuFTJcIgTQVXr6gImK~QURyclD0dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Sept. 9 Delaware County Jail Oversight Board meeting, facility officials reported program and training updates that included steady enrollment in medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), recent academy graduations, and reentry program milestones.

Chief Deputy Wharton Bonds told the board that as of Sept. 9 there were 171 patients engaged in MOUD, which he said represents “approximately 16 percent of our population.” The facility’s total incarcerated population that day was reported as 1,069 — a decrease of 20 from the prior month.

The training academy hosted two graduations since the last meeting, and a new cadet class (Class 825a) began Aug. 18; the next graduation for that class was scheduled for Sept. 26. Bonds said the facility continues to recruit but that attrition outpaces hires on the security side.

Program and support staff reported a first-cohort graduation of the Branching Out gardening program, which included hands-on training and a planned certification from Temple University and a tree-tender certification to follow. The second Branching Out cohort will run Nov. 3–Jan. 30.

Reentry services staff reported a cohort 29 First Step graduation with 12 sign-ups and said 131 participants to date have completed the program; the office said it is 19 completions short of the Pathway Home grant benchmark of 150 but expects to meet that benchmark within two months. EDSI delivered a 40-hour customer-service credential to 10 participants that carries an official Pennsylvania state credential. New Leash on Life USA completed its second cohort: 10 of 12 participants completed the program, six shelter dogs were adopted, and several participants received early parole or internship placement.

The Inside Out Prison Exchange college-level course resumed with Penn State Brandywine instructors; officials said 12 incarcerated learners and 11 Penn State students will meet weekly for 13 weeks.

Reentry staff additionally reported high tablet-based learning activity (2,503 courses completed in August) and that two on-site drug-and-alcohol liaisons released 78 people to inpatient treatment — the highest monthly number in 27 months.

Ending — Staff said program enrollments and training activity will continue and that the board will receive monthly updates on MOUD enrollment, training academy graduations and reentry program outcomes.","Facility leaders reported 171 people on medications for opioid use disorder (about 16% of the population), several training academy graduations, and multiple reentry program completions including First Step, New Leash on Life and Inside-Out Prison Exchange.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Roof, HVAC and surveillance upgrades at George W. Hill jail now expected in January

Delaware County jail leadership shifts to interim team as state finalizes warden appointment

Board to review inmate welfare fund uses after audit; public raises concerns about stipend and maintenance hiring

Jail reports steady MOUD enrollment, multiple reentry and training program graduations