Chester County Prison
LocationWest Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania, US
Coordinates39°54′29″N 75°39′38″W / 39.908081°N 75.660461°W / 39.908081; -75.660461
StatusOperational
Security classMedium-maximum
Capacity1,100
Population702 (as of June 30, 2023[1])
Opened1959 (1959)
WardenHoward Holland (acting warden)
Street address501 S Wawaset Rd
CityWest Chester
CountyChester County
State/provincePA
Postal code19382
CountryUSA
Websitewww.chesco.org
Notable prisoners
Danilo Cavalcante

Chester County Prison is a prison operated by Chester County, Pennsylvania located in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It has the capacity to hold 1,100 inmates, both men and women, and as of June 30, 2023, has a population of 702.[1]

The county prison drew national attention with the escape of inmate and Brazilian native Danilo Cavalcante on August 31, 2023.[2] After a 14-day Manhunt by the authorities, Danilo Cavalcante was apprehended under a pile of wood near South Coventry Township, Pennsylvania, on September 13, 2023.[3][4]

History

The Chester County Prison was built in 1959 to replace the previous county jail, which was declared unsafe in 1951. The new prison was designed to support medium and maximum security prisoners, with separate housing for male and female inmates, as well as juveniles. In 1983, parts of the prison were renovated and expanded. In 1993, a new Work Release Center was constructed on prison property.[5]

Incidents

On May 19, 2019, at approximately 11:30 P.M. inmate Igor Bolte escaped Chester County prison.[6] Igor Bolte was 3 months into his 23-month sentence for violating his probation when he scaled an exercise yard wall and climbed down to a less secure section.[7] He was found over three hours later in Pocopson Township, Pennsylvania, and was charged with escape, a felony in the third degree.[8]

On August 31, 2023, at 8:51 P.M. inmate Danilo Cavalcante escaped, using the same method as Bolte.[9] Cavalcante was to be transferred to a state prison to serve his life sentence for murder. Hundreds of law enforcement officers, including US Marshals, SWAT personnel, and personnel from local, state, and federal agencies, conducted a 14-day manhunt for Cavalcante which ended on September 13, 2023. During the night of September 11, 2023, Cavalcante stole a .22 caliber rifle, and two days later was captured in South Coventry Township, 23 miles away from the prison [10][11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Warden at Chester County Prison is on leave, official says". Daily Local. 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  2. ↑ Vella, Vinny (1 September 2023). "The former Chester County Prison warden retired the day before a convicted murderer escaped, officials said". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  3. ↑ Freeman, Danny; Salahieh, Nouran (September 13, 2023). "Escaped Pennsylvania inmate Danelo Cavalcante is in custody". CNN. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Escaped prisoner Danelo Cavalcante captured after 14-day manhunt - CBS Philadelphia". www.cbsnews.com. 2023-09-14. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  5. ↑ "History | Chester County, PA - Official Website". www.chesco.org. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  6. ↑ Vella, Vinny (2023-09-05). "Chester County Prison fugitive escaped using similar method as an inmate who fled in May, source says". Inquirer. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  7. ↑ Robertson, Campbell; Dewan, Shaila; Wolfram, Joel (2023-09-07). "Prison Officials Say Human Error Played Role in Pennsylvania Escape". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  8. ↑ "Authorities ID inmate who escaped from Chesco prison". Daily Local. 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  9. ↑ Land, Olivo (2023-09-13). "Danelo Cavalcante's escape was fifth Pennsylvania jailbreak in 2023 alone". New York Post. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  10. ↑ Salahieh, Eric Levenson,Celina Tebor,Kristina Sgueglia,Nouran (2023-09-12). "Escaped Pennsylvania prisoner now armed with a stolen rifle and 'extremely dangerous,' police say". CNN. Retrieved 2023-09-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ "What we know about Danelo Cavalcante's escape, manhunt and capture - CBS Philadelphia". www.cbsnews.com. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
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