Lowest Population Level in More Than 33 Years

The Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) hit a significant milestone and achievement on May 15, 2025: the incarcerated population fell to its lowest point in more than 33 years, marking a continued downward trend of the city jail population that began last fall. The current population of 3,480 is the lowest it has been since April 17, 1992. 

This achievement is the result of the collaborative efforts of the PDP, the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and the Defender Association of Philadelphia to formulate effective initiatives aimed at reducing the population. 

“The downward trend in our current jail population is not just a blip, it is the result of the work of our staff and the concerted effort of all of our justice partners and we will continue work diligently to ensure cases continue to be adjudicated or properly diverted, so we are not detaining people who should not be in our custody,” said Commissioner Michael R. Resnick, Esq.

These initiatives, which began in earnest last summer, include a monthly program overseen by Municipal Court Judge Karen Simmons, who conducts emergency bail hearings to determine if people in custody can safely be released to await trial. And in Common Pleas Court, Judge Rose Marie DeFino-Nastasi has expedited case reviews in which people are being held for probation-related issues, as well as working to resolve cases where inmates need mental health and substance abuse treatment. 

As a result, the population is more than 1,300 fewer than it was last summer when it at times exceeded 4,800. 

The implications of decreased population are significant. It allows the PDP to provide more out-of-cell time to the population, more services for the population, and it helps to significantly reduce medical backlogs. 

The smaller inmate population comes at a time when the PDP has modified its intake process to better assess newly admitted incarcerated people for serious medical conditions. The PDP also launched a pilot program last month that allows for real-time monitoring for medical conditions and serious health emergencies. 

“We are also seeing a significant uptick in people applying for and accepting jobs in the City’s prison system, which is another positive trend,” said Commissioner Resnick. “Having the officer corps grow and the population shrink are positive indicators that we’re moving in the right direction.”