From 2020 to 2023, there have been at least 46 deaths inside Philadelphia County jails — a death every month, on average. These were not natural deaths. They certainly were not justice. 90% of the people in Philadelphia jails are awaiting trial and have not been convicted of a crime.

On September 28, 2023, ALC’s coalition of family members of those held in jail, and advocates, made its voice heard outside and inside city hall, demanding City Council take urgent action to address these recent deaths and the brutal conditions in Philadelphia’s jails, by creating a 9-person prison oversight board and office. The coalition called on city officials to end the torture in Philly jails, hold a hearing in November 2023, and vote to make the Office of Prison Oversight a ballot question in the spring 2024 primary.

Photos by Joe Piette. Related article: www.workers.org/2023/10/73712/