Prisons commish Giorla to retire
The 33-year corrections veteran oversaw the citys six prisons through controversies and triumphs.
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PRISONS Commissioner Louis Giorla, who has spent 33 years working in Philly prisons including nearly eight in the top post, will retire in January.
The son of a correctional officer, Giorla started his prisons career in 1982, as a correctional officer at the House of Correction, and has held every rank since then except deputy commissioner.
He has presided over the city's six prisons through plenty of highs and lows.
Among the lows: An ongoing class-action lawsuit over crowding and prison conditions and calls for outside oversight after several controversial inmate deaths and excessive force incidents.
And the highs: The inmate population, at least for now, is dropping, with Giorla helping to draft recommendations to shrink it much more. And he has overseen efforts to increase vocational training for inmates through new programs like the Philadelphia Prison Orchard Project and partnerships with the Mural Arts Program and others.
His retirement will be effective Jan. 8.
The 59-year-old married father of three said he has no grand plans for his retirement other than to remain in Philadelphia.
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Blog: phillyconfidential.com