REHAB NOT HANDCUFFS –
July 7, 2024 – Since 2018, just over two dozen people have died from drug-related deaths in Philadelphia jails, where drugs are widely accessible, according to an Inquirer review of records and data. Our main story explores … The city’s plan to clean up Kensington, the heart of Philadelphia’s open-air drug markets, includes arresting people who use drugs. But with drug intoxication-related deaths on the rise within the jails, it’s unclear if they are in a position to safely house more people in addiction.
Public health reporter Aubrey Whelan teamed up with investigative reporter Samantha Melamed to dig into the deaths and conditions of these jails. They spoke with corrections officers, prisoners, and advocates alike, who all attest to unsafe conditions for medically fragile prisoners with illegal drugs running rampant in the facilities.
Public health reporter Aubrey Whelan teamed up with investigative reporter Samantha Melamed to dig into the deaths and conditions of these jails. They spoke with corrections officers, prisoners, and advocates…
