Prison rehab manager charged with Philadelphia DUI
The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting a deputy commissioner in the city’s prison has been charged with a Philadelphia DUI (driving under the influence. )
53-year-old Reginald Hammond was arrested on October 9. The arrest is of note because the commissioner is charged with running a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program for inmates at the prison. He was off-duty at the time of arrest and driving a personal vehicle, although he does have access to a vehicle through his work.
Hammond has been with the prison system for over 25 years. He has served as commissioner for about 4 years, and he is compensated with a salary over six figures. The commissioner’s BAC was analyzed at .14%. He is scheduled to appear in court in December.
Though Hammond’s superiors at the prison are aware of the arrest, no disciplinary action has been taken at this point. As is common with law enforcement and public organizations, the prison system will conduct an internal review of the case prior to making any judgement.
It is not necessary for Hammond to be convicted of DUI in order to receive a disciplinary suspension or action against him. Most city institutions will evaluated the case according to their own ethical standards and not the civil standards used in court.
The fact Hammond was off-duty at the time of the arrest will likely minimize any disciplinary action against him. However, since Hammond does operate alcohol rehabilitation for inmates, he may face a more severe penalty if the review finds him in violation of the ethics of his position.
