[2] The prison, located on Graterford Road off of Pennsylvania Route 29,[3] was about 31 miles (50 km) northwest of Philadelphia.

[citation needed] It replaced functions at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, which had previously experienced some disturbances.

An engraving of this plan is found on a brass plaque just inside the facility's double-gated airlock-type main entrance.

The situation was diffused by Chuck Stone of the Philadelphia Daily News, who secured the surrender of the rebel inmates in his role as an outside negotiator.

[14] Graterford had a music program for inmates, Songs in the Key of Free, run by volunteers and established in October 2016.

In addition the stress-reduction and therapy programs from Rutgers University professor Nancy Wolff were also terminated as part of the move.