Philadelphia Seeking Foundation Funding For Plan To Reduce Its Prison Population
By Pat Loeb
PHILADLEPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia justice system is proposing an ambitious plan to reduce the city's inmate population by a third in the course of three years. The city is seeking a grant to fund the plan.
Police and prosecutors, judges and defenders all have bought into the plan, which would find alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders and those awaiting trial. Mayor Jim Kenney says many of the city's estimated 6,000 to 7,000 inmates don't need to be in jail but can't make bail.
"If we can get it down to 2,000 or 1,500 less, we could close the house of correction, which would be a good feat," said Kenney.
Kenney's spokesperson says most of the specifics are under wraps, because of the rules of the application for a $4 million McArthur Foundation grant.
But District Attorney Seth Williams says part of it proposes day reporting centers, where those awaiting trial could get addiction or mental health services.
"That might help them not get re-arrested and will save the taxpayers money," said Williams.
The city is prepared to put $2 million into the plan and hopes to move forward, even without the grant.
