Oversight at Delaware County’s prison is changing so that elected officials and county residents will have more input over what goes on there, writes Vinny Vella for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Delaware County Council voted unanimously to remake the board that oversees the county prison, from a Board of Prison Inspectors to a new Jail Oversight Board. It is soliciting applications to join the new board.

The George W. Hill Correctional Facility is the only privately run county prison in the state. The Board of Prison Inspectors has been able to make financial and policy decisions without county council approval.

Council Democrats had been pushing for change since last November, but made no headway.

Now stakeholders in the county’s criminal justice system have jumped on board, including President Judge Kevin F. Kelly.

“During the time when the county jails have been forced to expand their mission beyond simply housing detainees and those serving short sentences … we saw value in the proposed expanded oversight,” said County Council Chairman John McBlain.  The move is “yet another step in assuring public confidence in the oversight of that facility.”

Read more about the shake up with the Delaware County Prison Board here.

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