After three and a half years at the helm of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility, Warden Laura K. Williams is stepping down, county officials announced this week.
In a statement, Delaware County praised Williams for guiding the facility through a period of transition after the county took back control of the jail in 2022—a campaign promise of the Democratic majority that won control of the county council in 2019.
Under Williams, the county says the prison achieved accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, invested more than $50 million in long-delayed capital improvements, reduced its inmate population by 40 percent from its peak, and expanded community partnerships to support inmate education and reentry.
“Warden Williams oversaw substantial improvements in compliance with Pennsylvania code for care and safety of inmates and operations of county facilities,” the county said. “She further enhanced partnerships such as the First Step Program, Public Health Management Corporation, and New Leash on Life.”
The Pennsylvania Prison Society and the Delco Coalition for Prison Reform also commended Williams’ leadership. “There is no doubt that the George W. Hill Correctional Facility is in a better place after being led through this period of transition,” the coalition said in a statement.
But Williams’ tenure was not without controversy. The county is now facing lawsuits from families of inmates who died in custody. Former County Council Chairman Wally Nunn, a Republican and former member of the county’s Board of Prison Inspectors, argued that by shifting away from private management, the county exposed itself to costly litigation.
“Now it’s the taxpayer that is going to get that bill,” Nunn said. “And there are some [cases] that have the promise of significant settlements.”
Nunn pointed to the February 2023 death of 25-year-old paraplegic inmate Mustafa Jackson, who was suffering from urosepsis when he was found face down in his cell. “He died alone, in a horrible way,” Nunn said, questioning why Jackson had not been placed in the medical unit.
Critics also note the rising costs of operating the facility. According to county budget records, daily costs per inmate increased from $75 to $145 since Williams took office. The prison’s annual budget has grown from $53.4 million in 2023 to $59.3 million this year, even as the average daily inmate population dropped from 1,800 to about 1,200.
“At least three different times, the corrections officers’ leaders came to the county council and pleaded for help, saying their lives were in danger,” Nunn said, adding that he believes the council should have scrutinized Williams’ record more closely before hiring her.
Despite the criticism, reform advocates credit Williams with setting the stage for further improvements. “Our walkthrough of the prison in January found continued improvement,” the Pennsylvania Prison Society said, noting her commitment to ongoing reform efforts.
Williams county officials have not announced her successor.