Blanche Carney Makes History As Philadelphia's First Female Prisons Commissioner
By Rahel Solomon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia's new prisons commissioner, she is known within the city's prison system, but her new role is a historic one for Philadelphia.
She is the first female prisons commissioner in Philadelphia's history. "I was excited that it was a woman that we finally pick," Mayor Jim Kenney said. "Because, I do believe that there needs to set a tone with some of the people in our custody that it's not just about punishment. It's about redemption and it's about moving forward in their lives."
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Blanch Carney, a Lincoln University and Bryn Mawr College graduate, started her career in the Philadelphia Prison System in 1995. She says her role is to continue lowering the prison population while helping those who want to be helped.
"When we're providing re-entry services, we really want those folks that are high risk, a threat to public safety, they have to come into custody, but we also have the responsibility to prepare folks," Carney said.