As the search for 17-year-old murder suspect
Shane Pryor continues in Philadelphia
, many are asking why there seem to be so many prison escapes in recent months.
Action News covered at least
in 2023 in Pennsylvania, a majority of them in the Philadelphia region.
“If you’re seeing an increase in the number of murder suspects that have escaped, that is probably one indicator that escapes are probably going up,” said Bryce Peterson, a researcher with the Center of Naval Analyses (CNA), who focuses on correctional issues.
Data compiled by Action News shows a drop in escapes and attempts from 2015-2022.
READ MORE: Philadelphia police questioning person who may have picked up teen murder suspect after escape
Philadelphia police questioning person who may have picked up teen murder suspect after escape
In 2022, there were no reported prison escapes. However, Peterson believes the real number is probably much higher because many aren’t reported and there is no uniformity in reporting.