Philadelphia correctional facilities faced a violent Thanksgiving weekend, with three prisoners stabbed across two incidents, police confirmed.
On Saturday evening, a 32-year-old inmate at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center in Northeast Philadelphia was attacked.
The man suffered multiple stab wounds to his head and face and was hospitalized in stable condition at Jefferson Torresdale Hospital.
Authorities arrested the assailant but recovered no weapons.
This incident followed a Friday altercation at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, where two inmates stabbed each other.
One man, 30, sustained three stab wounds to his back, while a 31-year-old suffered a head injury. Both were treated at the hospital and released.
These assaults bring the number of arrestees injured during the holiday weekend to three, just over a week after Miles Pfeffer—awaiting trial for the murder of Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald—was attacked by another inmate.
Pfeffer was stabbed multiple times in a communal area at Curran-Fromhold on November 21. He sustained wounds to his head, hip, and hand.
Rightfully so, the violence has reignited concerns over staffing shortages in Philadelphia prisons.
According to Philadelphia Prisons Commissioner Michael R. Resnick, staffing levels are critically low, hovering at 54%.
Claire Shubik-Richards, executive director of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, pointed to holidays and major events like Philadelphia Eagles games as times when staff shortages are most acute, exacerbating security risks.
The Defender Association of Philadelphia has also flagged deteriorating conditions, citing prolonged lockdowns, delays in medical care, and mounting chaos within housing units.
To reduce overcrowding, they facilitated the release of 100 pretrial detainees facing low-level charges earlier this fall.
However, the city’s prison system has struggled to address these challenges.
In July, a federal judge held the Philadelphia Department of Prisons in contempt of court for failing to meet the terms of a settlement to improve jail conditions.
U.S. District Court Judge Gerald A. McHugh acknowledged city efforts to mitigate the staffing crisis but deemed them insufficient.
While none of the recent stabbings were fatal, they underscore the pressing need for systemic reform to ensure the safety of prisoners and staff.
Representatives from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons declined to comment on the incidents or the staffing concerns raised.
