Resolution 060711

..Title Authorizing the Council Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings regarding the inmate overcrowding and security problems at the Philadelphia Prison System. ..Body WHEREAS, And according to a August 22, 2006 article in The Philadelphia Tribune, various allegations have been made that the Philadelphia Prison System ("Prison System") has serious inmate overcrowding and security problems; and WHEREAS, To address the overcrowding problem, inmates have been "shuffled" throughout the Prison System and have been housed in various areas including but not limited to sleeping on the floor of the Detention Center; and WHEREAS, On July 25, 2006, David Rudovsky, Esquire filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia alleging that the City is violating the U.S. Constitution for placing inmates in overcrowded prison facilities and subjecting inmates to inhumane conditions and this lawsuit follows Mr. Rudovsky's 1971 federal lawsuit, which was settled in 2000 and based on similar pleadings; and WHEREAS, In addition to the overcrowding issue, allegations have been made that the Prison System has problems with security lapses and inaccurate headcounts, which led to an inmate escaping from the House of Corrections and a rape suspect being missing for approximately 24 hours; and WHEREAS, The overcrowding and security issues have created an atmosphere where inmate crime, violence, and riots are more likely to occur and have produced an unsafe and severely stressful work environment for Prison System employees; now therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Public Health and Human Services is authorized to hold hearings regarding the inmate overcrowding and security problems at the Philadelphia Prison System. FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Committee on Public Health and Human Services is authorized to issue subpoenas as may be necessary to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents to the full extent authorized under Section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter. ..End