Delco Prison Releases Another Inmate Prematurely

Despite all the publicity over five previous cases of Delaware County prison inmates wrongfully released,
fumbled paperwork or staff oversight errors resulted this week in a sixth wrongful release.

KYW's Al Novack reports that the latest Delaware County prison inmate given his temporary freedom was 21-year-old Gary Tagland of Cherry Hill, NJ.    He was brought to Delaware County to be tried on drug paraphernalia charges from New Jersey, where he had been incarcerated on other charges.

After he pleaded guilty to charges in Springfield Township (Delaware County), he was supposed to be handed back to New Jersey law enforcement officials.  But instead he was given his walking papers on Tuesday and inadvertently freed.

Delaware County Council chair Jack Whelan says new safeguards are in place and he issued a warning to prison employees:

"Disciplinary action will be taken.  A person being prematurely released is unacceptable and will be dealt with."

Tagland was recaptured and is back behind bars in New Jersey.