By JP Phillips
Contributing Writer

When convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante’s two-week escape from Chester County Prison ended on Sept 13, 2023, area residents were still traumatized by the knowledge that many deficiencies that allowed the escape to happen in the first place continued to exist.  Chester County was supposed to be a safe place to live, but now many residents in the area weren’t so sure.  Many were unaware that individuals charged with serious crimes were housed there until their trail date and then, if convicted, waited there for transport to a state facility.

“Our residents were living in fear because one of the worst prisoners we’ve had, in terms of the crimes they’ve committed, managed to get out of our facility,” County Commissioner and Prison Board Chair Josh Maxwell said to a large crowd on Sept. 23, 2023, the first Board Meeting after the capture.  “Soon after the escape, we tasked the acting warden with putting together a plan once that situation was resolved that we can use to start earning the public trust back.  It’s going to take more than a day, more than the meeting today.  It’s going to take weeks. And then months, and then years without any incidents to earn the community’s trust.”

Improvements started with a change of leadership at the top.  Acting Warden Howard Holland took over from the previous warden the day before the escape, and was appointed as the permanent warden during the April 29, 2024 board meeting.  Brian Sheller was approved for the position of Deputy Warden for Security during a meeting in February of 2024.  

Of the many plans that were put forth during that September 2023 board meeting, much of the focus was on fully enclosing the outdoor yards.  It appeared that the proposal was approved by the Board, but Maxwell said during a telephone interview with the Chester County Press on August 23, 2024 that due to the constitutional need for prisoners to be exposed to natural sunlight, that design was scrapped.  The prison is working with a new vendor to encase the yards with security mesh.  It is still in the design phase.

When prisoners Cavalcante and, a few months earlier, Igor Bolte, “crab-walked” to the top of the alley entrance of the exercise yard, they encountered a sunlit triangular opening leading to the roof.  Those openings (there are eight yards) have been completely closed off with security metal mesh and additional upgraded razor.  Had this relatively simple fix been in place, the breach as it occurred would have been impossible.

Cavalcante’s run to freedom was not noticed by the single guard in the observation tower.  In a response to written questions submitted by the Chester County Press, the county’s Communications Office stated that there is now an additional officer patrolling the inside perimeter of the exercise yards whenever they are in use.

Cavalcante escaped wearing non-descrript clothing that allowed him to blend into the area.  Prison uniforms are now brightly colored based on the prisoner’s level of crime and/or flight risk assessment, and are clearly marked CHESTER COUNTY PRISON.

ReadyChesco, the county’s emergency communication system, was woefully inadequate during the Cavalcante escape.  According to Pocopson resident Stephanie Hoopman, who lives less than a mile from the prison, the first ReadyChesco alert was sent out at noon—two hours after the siren sounded.  Cavalcante escaped at 8:51 a.m., but was not identified as missing for an hour.  Maxwell said that they no longer wait for complete information before notifying the community of an emergency.  They will err on the side of an early warning versus having complete accuracy.

Another major issue was staff shortages.  At the time of the escape, there were 76 vacancies out of 301 prison positions, including 55 correctional officers.  The Communications Office stated that, as of July 24, 2024, there were 73 vacancies, including 59 correctional officers. 

Holland spoke about the staffing challenges at the Pocopson Township building on August 26, 2024, just before the start of their monthly Board of Supervisors meeting.  He has been attending many of these meetings to give updates, listen to concerns, or simply to better understand the local community.  

“This is a tough one for me because, you know, we brought in probably about 45 to 50 people since I've been there.  And we've lost about the same amount,” he said. He cited retirements, some terminations, and some resignations.  

“A lot of people don't really do well with change, and we're doing a lot of change,” he said. “We're moving forward. And, you know, some of them stepped up, some of them are really struggling.  But you're starting to see the culture change.”

During public comments at the August 28, 2024 Prison Board meeting, a current prison employee spoke about the burden that chronic under-staffing puts on the other employees.  In his view, mandatory overtime is unfair, not adequately compensated for, and not appreciated. He also questioned if race played a part in how employees were disciplined. As per protocol, there was no discussion, but Maxwell requested a copy of his statement.

Holland said the prison has put in place new professional development and career-building programs designed to increase skills, motivation, morale, and professionalism among employees.  In time, he feels that these programs, along with competitive pay and significant infrastructure improvements, will allow the prison to attract top-notch personnel and gain a reputation as a good place to work.

In April of 2024, additional upgraded razor wire was installed on the roof and by the perimeter fence.  In June of 2024, new fiber-optic cable was laid to enable the installation of new cameras, some of which are on the roof and are motion-activated.  A body scanner and X-ray machine will scan people and their bags upon entrance to the prison to detect objects and contraband.

New ballistic vests were delivered in July of 2024 for officers on perimeter guard and transport duty.  New air handlers were completed in August of 2024 in both the Work Release Center and parts of the main prison.  Air scrubbers were added in both facilities to remove pollutants. 

Programmable Logic Controllers that open and close all doors and gates in the prison replaced an unreliable system dating from 2007.  “The system we have was antiquated. You press the buttons. There'd be no response. We'd have to run around with keys,” Holland said.  “We upgraded all that.”  The work started in 2023, and will finish shortly.

The indoor gym that was closed years ago due to ventilation problems is now back in service.  Employee locker rooms, meeting spaces, and work station countertops have been updated.

The prison will soon start work on a Perimeter Intrusion Detection System to protect the outer perimeter fencing.  

“If someone tries to cut it, if someone tries to climb it, it leaves you with this notification,” Holland said.  “It’ll send an alert.”

Card readers are planned for employees that will better protect authorized and unauthorized spaces.  They are bringing back two K9 dogs.  A functioning intercom system, a relocated camera monitoring room, a mail scanner, new laundry machines for prisoner uniforms and hot water heaters are also in the works. Holland said that parts of the roof leaks, and it will be replaced in sections over the next three years.

The county’s chesco.org website states that the current prison was opened in 1959, and underwent renovations and expansions in 1983.  With the exception of the Pre-Release / Work Release Center built in 1993, there is no mention of major renovations for the past 41 years.  Holland said that it will take three to five years to complete all of the planned infrastructure and security improvements to his satisfaction.

Elaine DiMonte, Chair of the Pocopson Board of Supervisors, is quite pleased with the level of prison leadership engagement and the sharing of information.  She has a better appreciation of the challenges the prison faces with any kind of a building project.  Because of the high level of security, tools and supplies need to be counted going in and out of the facility.  If work is being done on one area, there needs to be room to shift the prisoners living in that area to another space.  Projects need to be staged based on priority, and DiMonte has full confidence in Holland to do the job. 

“I have every confidence in his ability to lead the prison,” she said, “provided that the Prison Board gives him what he needs.”   

Maxwell had some thoughts about the progress made at the Chester County Prison.  “It's a very large boat.  And I think it's starting to move in the right direction and gaining some momentum.  We realize it's going to take years of investment into personnel and the facility to get it up to the standards that the residents deserve,” he said.