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On January 30th, 2021, two inmates managed to escape from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons without notice for almost 19 hours. It all began with the escape of 20-year-old Najib Woods, a dangerous inmate who had already escaped from authorities in the past. The second inmate, 21-year-old Luis Barrios, decided to follow Woods shortly after and the pair were free. This escape has caused a lot of panic and raised concerns about the security measures put in place at the facility. How did the inmates manage to escape without notice? Let’s examine the case.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that Woods took advantage of the prison’s outdated structure to escape. It was said that Woods waited for the perfect opportunity to make his move and that opportunity presented itself when he climbed through a damaged area of the roof. He then proceeded to climb down five stories using a homemade rope made of tied together bed sheets, and landed on the sidewalk.
Barrios, who shared a cell with Woods, followed his lead and made his escape using the same path. And for almost 19 hours, they remained at large.
It’s worth noting that prior to this escape, Woods had already managed to escape from authorities once before. In that incident, he had stolen a prison guard’s uniform and fled the scene. That made him one of the most wanted fugitives in the region. Considering that he was then able to escape from prison once more, there are questions being raised about the security measures at the Philadelphia Department of Prisons.
The Philadelphia Prison System is one of the oldest and largest prison systems in the country. Over the years, the prison system has experienced many challenges with security breaches, jailbreaks and poor conditions. The jailbreak on the 30th of January further exposed the deficiencies in the system.
One of the biggest challenges that the prison system faces is its outdated structure. The walls, fencing, and buildings have been the same for over a century and are not equipped to handle the demands of modern day prison life. The prison system also lacks the required resources to monitor inmates effectively, leading to cases of contraband smuggled into the prison.
In addition to the prison’s structural issues, staffing shortages have also been a major concern. The lack of personnel has led to inadequate monitoring of inmates and compromised security measures. The workers’ union has been calling for more staff to be hired, but the plea has mostly fallen on deaf ears.
The escape of Woods and Barrios raises alarm bells as Woods is a dangerous inmate who was awaiting trial after being charged with attempted murder and robbery. This means that dangerous criminals like him need to be monitored closely or else they can pose a significant risk to society. With his history of escape, it’s clear that there needs to be a revision of the prison’s security procedures.
The escape has also brought attention to the growing number of non-violent offenders who are caught in the web of the criminal justice system in Philadelphia. The overcrowding in the prisons has led to an understaffed prison system with inadequate resources, making it harder to monitor more serious criminals.
To prevent future escape attempts it is essential that the Philadelphia Department of Prisons makes significant changes to its security measures and upgrades its infrastructure. This is necessary not only for the safety of society, but also to create a more humane prison system.
In conclusion, the escape of Najib Woods and Luis Barrios highlights deep structural concerns within the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. The outdated and overcrowded structure of the prison is not fit to contain inmates safely. Significant changes are needed if the prison is to fulfill its mandate of containing and rehabilitating inmates. If nothing is done, the prison will continue to face challenges in ensuring the security of society. The current escape, along with past jailbreaks and contraband smuggling, have demonstrated the need for change. It is the responsibility of the prison officials, the criminal justice system, and the community as a whole to work together to create a better, more secure future for everyone. Until then, the freedom of inmates will remain uncertain, and society will continue to be at risk.
