diff --git a/app/resources/locales/en_US/information.po b/app/resources/locales/en_US/information.po
index 95efe2696..1f1938ee1 100644
--- a/app/resources/locales/en_US/information.po
+++ b/app/resources/locales/en_US/information.po
@@ -142,16 +142,16 @@ msgid "People.delete.cluster"
 msgstr "Account on {0}"
 
 msgid "People.delete.hard"
-msgstr "Performing a <a href=\"https://spaces.at.internet2.edu/x/ZwnfF\">hard delete</a> will physically remove all records from the database, including all <a href=\"https://spaces.at.internet2.edu/x/bwnfF\">Changelog Entries</a>. This operation cannot be undone, except by restoring from a backup."
+msgstr "Performing a <a href=\"https://spaces.at.internet2.edu/x/ZwnfF\">hard delete</a> will physically remove the Person and associated records from the database, including all <a href=\"https://spaces.at.internet2.edu/x/bwnfF\">Changelog Entries</a>. This operation cannot be undone except by restoring from a backup."
 
 msgid "People.delete.history.actor"
-msgstr "{0} History Records(s) for which this Person is an Actor will be updated to have no Actor"
+msgstr "{0} History Records(s) for which this Person is an Actor will be updated to have no Actor."
 
 msgid "People.delete.history.job"
-msgstr "{0} Job History Records(s) related to this Person will be updated to remove the link"
+msgstr "{0} Job History Records(s) related to this Person will be updated to remove the link."
 
 msgid "People.delete.person"
-msgstr "Deleting this record will delete the complete Person record for <a href=\"{0}\">{1}</a> (Person ID {2}), including <a href=\"{3}\">history</a>"
+msgstr "Deleting this record will delete the complete Person record for <a href=\"{0}\">{1}</a> (Person ID {2}), including <a href=\"{3}\">history</a>."
 
 msgid "People.delete.ei"
 msgstr "External Identity {0} from {1} (Source Key: {2})"
@@ -160,28 +160,31 @@ msgid "People.delete.ei.legacy"
 msgstr "Legacy External Identity {0}"
 
 msgid "People.delete.notifications.actor"
-msgstr "{0} Notification(s) for which this Person is an Actor will be updated to have no Actor"
+msgstr "{0} Notification(s) for which this Person is an Actor will be updated to have no Actor."
 
 msgid "People.delete.notifications.recipient"
-msgstr "{0} Notification(s) for which this Person is a Recipient will be updated"
+msgstr "{0} Notification(s) for which this Person is a Recipient will be updated."
 
 msgid "People.delete.notifications.resolver"
-msgstr "{0} Notification(s) for which this Person is the Resolver will be updated to have no Resolver"
+msgstr "{0} Notification(s) for which this Person is the Resolver will be updated to have no Resolver."
 
 msgid "People.delete.petitions.history.actor"
-msgstr "{0} Petition History Records(s) for which this Person is an Actor will be updated to have no Actor"
+msgstr "{0} Petition History Records(s) for which this Person is an Actor will be updated to have no Actor."
 
 msgid "People.delete.petitions.petitioner"
-msgstr "{0} Petitions(s) for which this Person is the Petitioner will be updated to have no Petitioner"
+msgstr "{0} Petitions(s) for which this Person is the Petitioner will be updated to have no Petitioner."
 
 msgid "People.delete.role"
 msgstr "Person Role {0}: (COU: {1}, Affiliation: {2}, Title: {3})"
 
 msgid "People.delete.roles.manager"
-msgstr "{0} Person Role(s) for which this Person is a Manager will be updated to have no Manager"
+msgstr "{0} Person Role(s) for which this Person is a Manager will be updated to have no Manager."
 
 msgid "People.delete.roles.sponsor"
-msgstr "{0} Person Role(s) for which this Person is a Sponsor will be updated to have no Sponsor"
+msgstr "{0} Person Role(s) for which this Person is a Sponsor will be updated to have no Sponsor."
+
+msgid "People.delete.soft"
+msgstr "Performing a <a href=\"https://spaces.at.internet2.edu/x/ZwnfF\">soft delete</a> will mark the Person and associated records as "deleted" and hide them from the user interface."
 
 msgid "petition.history"
 msgstr "Petition History"
diff --git a/app/resources/locales/en_US/operation.po b/app/resources/locales/en_US/operation.po
index 6e545cf5f..3b6f003ff 100644
--- a/app/resources/locales/en_US/operation.po
+++ b/app/resources/locales/en_US/operation.po
@@ -192,6 +192,9 @@ msgstr "Decline"
 msgid "delete"
 msgstr "Delete"
 
+msgid "delete.a"
+msgstr "Delete {0}?"
+
 msgid "delete.confirm"
 msgstr "Are you sure you want to delete this record ({0})?"
 
@@ -199,6 +202,9 @@ msgid "delete.confirm.title"
 msgstr "Confirm Deletion"
 
 msgid "delete.hard"
+msgstr "Hard Delete"
+
+msgid "delete.hard.perform"
 msgstr "Perform Hard Delete"
 
 msgid "delete.queue"
@@ -207,6 +213,9 @@ msgstr "Queue for Deletion"
 msgid "delete.queue.confirm"
 msgstr "Are you sure you want to schedule this record ({0}) for deletion?"
 
+msgid "delete.soft"
+msgstr "Soft Delete"
+
 msgid "duplicate"
 msgstr "Duplicate"
 
diff --git a/app/src/Controller/Component/BreadcrumbComponent.php b/app/src/Controller/Component/BreadcrumbComponent.php
index f09080c69..cee093773 100644
--- a/app/src/Controller/Component/BreadcrumbComponent.php
+++ b/app/src/Controller/Component/BreadcrumbComponent.php
@@ -295,10 +295,10 @@ public function injectPrimaryLink(
       $linkTable = \Cake\ORM\TableRegistry::getTableLocator()->get($linkModelFqn);
       $contain   = $this->resolveContainList($linkTable, $mappedAction);
 
-      // Normalize attr (people_id → id when the attr matches the model’s own foreign key)
+      // Use the table alias for query building (avoid plugin-qualified names in SQL)
       $modelAlias = $linkTable->getAlias();
-      $foreignKey = StringUtilities::classNameToForeignKey($modelAlias);
-      $linkAttr   = ($link->attr === $foreignKey) ? 'id' : $link->attr;
+
+      $linkAttr = (string)$linkTable->getPrimaryKey();
 
       // Fetch the linked entity; if not found, handle gracefully
       $linkedEntity = $linkTable
diff --git a/app/src/Controller/PeopleController.php b/app/src/Controller/PeopleController.php
index 97152d9ec..3b71d4d03 100644
--- a/app/src/Controller/PeopleController.php
+++ b/app/src/Controller/PeopleController.php
@@ -147,9 +147,17 @@ public function confirmDelete(string $id) {
       'PetitionHistoryRecords'
     ];
 
-    $this->set('vv_person', $this->People->get((int)$id, contain: $contain));
+    $person = $this->People->get((int)$id, contain: $contain);
+    $this->set('vv_person', $person);
+
+    $this->Breadcrumb->injectTitleLink(
+      table: $this->People,
+      entity: $person,
+      action: 'edit',
+      label: $this->People->generateDisplayField($person)
+    );
     
-    $this->set('vv_title', __d('operation', 'delete.confirm.title'));
+    $this->set('vv_title', __d('operation', 'delete.a',[$person->primary_name->full_name]));
 
     // We pull cluster information separately because it can't be contain'd
     $this->set('vv_person_cluster_status', $this->People->Cos->Clusters->status((int)$id));
diff --git a/app/templates/People/confirm_delete.php b/app/templates/People/confirm_delete.php
index 7829262e6..d372cd21c 100644
--- a/app/templates/People/confirm_delete.php
+++ b/app/templates/People/confirm_delete.php
@@ -32,19 +32,21 @@
 
 <div class="page-title-container">
   <div class="page-title">
-    <h2><?= $vv_title ?></h2>
+    <h1><?= $vv_title ?></h1>
   </div>
 </div>
 
 <?= $this->element('flash') // Flash messages ?>
 
 <?= $this->element('notify/alert', [
-  'message' => __d('operation', 'delete.confirm', [$vv_person->primary_name->full_name]),
-  'type' => 'information'
+  'message' => __d('operation', 'delete.confirm', [$vv_person->id]),
+  'type' => 'warning'
 ]) ?>
 
-<ul>
-  <li><?= __d(
+<ul class="delete-info-list">
+  <li>
+    <em class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">info</em>
+    <?= __d(
     'information',
     'People.delete.person', 
     [
@@ -52,113 +54,204 @@
       $vv_person->primary_name->full_name,
       $vv_person->id,
       $this->Url->build(['controller' => 'history-records', 'action' => 'index', '?' => ['person_id' => $vv_person->id]])
-    ]) ?></li>
+    ]) ?>
 
-  <?php if(!empty($vv_person->person_roles)): ?>
-  <ul>
-    <?php foreach($vv_person->person_roles as $role): ?>
-    <li><?= __d(
-      'information',
-      'People.delete.role',
-      [
-        $role->id,
-        $role->cou->name ?? '-',
-        $role->affiliation_type->display_name,
-        $role->title ?: '-'
-      ]
-    ) ?></li>
-    <?php endforeach; // role ?>
-  </ul>
-  <?php endif; // person_roles ?>
-
-  <?php if(!empty($vv_person->external_identities)): ?>
-  <ul>
-    <?php foreach($vv_person->external_identities as $ei): ?>
-    <li><?=
-      !empty($ei->ext_identity_source_record)
-      ? __d(
-          'information',
-          'People.delete.ei',
-          [
-            $ei->id,
-            $ei->ext_identity_source_record->external_identity_source->description,
-            $ei->ext_identity_source_record->source_key
-          ]
-        )
-      // Legacy External Identities do not have Source Records
-      : __d('information', 'People.delete.ei.legacy', [$ei->id])
-      ?></li>
-    <?php endforeach; // external_identities ?>
-  </ul>
-  <?php endif; // external_identities ?>
-
-  <?php if(!empty($vv_person_cluster_status)): ?>
-  <ul>
-    <?php foreach($vv_person_cluster_status as $cs): ?>
-    <li><?= __d('information', 'People.delete.cluster', [$cs['cluster']->description]) ?></li>
-    <?php endforeach; ?>
-  </ul>
-  <?php endif; // vv_person_cluster_status ?>
+    <?php if(!empty($vv_person->person_roles)): ?>
+    <ul>
+      <?php foreach($vv_person->person_roles as $role): ?>
+      <li><?= __d(
+        'information',
+        'People.delete.role',
+        [
+          $role->id,
+          $role->cou->name ?? '-',
+          $role->affiliation_type->display_name,
+          $role->title ?: '-'
+        ]
+      ) ?></li>
+      <?php endforeach; // role ?>
+    </ul>
+    <?php endif; // person_roles ?>
+  
+    <?php if(!empty($vv_person->external_identities)): ?>
+    <ul>
+      <?php foreach($vv_person->external_identities as $ei): ?>
+      <li><?=
+        !empty($ei->ext_identity_source_record)
+        ? __d(
+            'information',
+            'People.delete.ei',
+            [
+              $ei->id,
+              $ei->ext_identity_source_record->external_identity_source->description,
+              $ei->ext_identity_source_record->source_key
+            ]
+          )
+        // Legacy External Identities do not have Source Records
+        : __d('information', 'People.delete.ei.legacy', [$ei->id])
+        ?></li>
+      <?php endforeach; // external_identities ?>
+    </ul>
+    <?php endif; // external_identities ?>
+  
+    <?php if(!empty($vv_person_cluster_status)): ?>
+    <ul>
+      <?php foreach($vv_person_cluster_status as $cs): ?>
+      <li><?= __d('information', 'People.delete.cluster', [$cs['cluster']->description]) ?></li>
+      <?php endforeach; ?>
+    </ul>
+    <?php endif; // vv_person_cluster_status ?>
+  </li>
 
   <?php if(!empty($vv_person->sponsor_person_roles)): ?>
-  <li><?= __d('information', 'People.delete.roles.sponsor', [count($vv_person->sponsor_person_roles)]) ?>
+  <li>
+    <em class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">info</em>
+    <?= __d('information', 'People.delete.roles.sponsor', [count($vv_person->sponsor_person_roles)]) ?>
+  </li>
   <?php endif; // sponsor_person_roles ?>
 
   <?php if(!empty($vv_person->manager_person_roles)): ?>
-  <li><?= __d('information', 'People.delete.roles.manager', [count($vv_person->manager_person_roles)]) ?>
+  <li>
+    <em class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">info</em>
+    <?= __d('information', 'People.delete.roles.manager', [count($vv_person->manager_person_roles)]) ?>
+  </li>
   <?php endif; // manager_person_roles ?>
 
   <?php if(!empty($vv_person->actor_history_records)): ?>
-  <li><?= __d('information', 'People.delete.history.actor', [count($vv_person->actor_history_records)]) ?>
+  <li>
+    <em class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">info</em>
+    <?= __d('information', 'People.delete.history.actor', [count($vv_person->actor_history_records)]) ?>
+  </li>
   <?php endif; // actor_history_records ?>
 
   <?php if(!empty($vv_person->job_history_records)): ?>
-  <li><?= __d('information', 'People.delete.history.job', [count($vv_person->job_history_records)]) ?>
+  <li>
+    <em class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">info</em>
+    <?= __d('information', 'People.delete.history.job', [count($vv_person->job_history_records)]) ?>
+  </li>
   <?php endif; // actor_history_records ?>
 
   <?php if(!empty($vv_person->actor_notifications)): ?>
-  <li><?= __d('information', 'People.delete.notifications.actor', [count($vv_person->actor_notifications)]) ?>
+  <li>
+    <em class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">info</em>
+    <?= __d('information', 'People.delete.notifications.actor', [count($vv_person->actor_notifications)]) ?>
+  </li>
   <?php endif; // actor_notifications ?>
 
   <?php if(!empty($vv_person->recipient_notifications)): ?>
-  <li><?= __d('information', 'People.delete.notifications.recipient', [count($vv_person->recipient_notifications)]) ?>
+  <li>
+    <em class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">info</em>
+    <?= __d('information', 'People.delete.notifications.recipient', [count($vv_person->recipient_notifications)]) ?>
+  </li>
   <?php endif; // recipient_notifications ?>
 
   <?php if(!empty($vv_person->resolver_notifications)): ?>
-  <li><?= __d('information', 'People.delete.notifications.resolver', [count($vv_person->resolver_notifications)]) ?>
+  <li>
+    <em class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">info</em>
+    <?= __d('information', 'People.delete.notifications.resolver', [count($vv_person->resolver_notifications)]) ?>
+  </li>
   <?php endif; // resolver_notifications ?>
 
   <?php if(!empty($vv_person->petitioner_petitions)): ?>
-  <li><?= __d('information', 'People.delete.petitions.petitioner', [count($vv_person->petitioner_petitions)]) ?>
+  <li>
+    <em class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">info</em>
+    <?= __d('information', 'People.delete.petitions.petitioner', [count($vv_person->petitioner_petitions)]) ?>
+  </li>
   <?php endif; // petitioner_petitions ?>
 
   <?php if(!empty($vv_person->petition_history_records)): ?>
-  <li><?= __d('information', 'People.delete.petitions.history.actor', [count($vv_person->petition_history_records)]) ?>
+  <li>
+    <em class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">info</em>
+    <?= __d('information', 'People.delete.petitions.history.actor', [count($vv_person->petition_history_records)]) ?>
+  </li>
   <?php endif; // petition_history_records ?>
 </ul>
 
-<?php
-  // Begin the form
-  print $this->Form->create($vv_person, [
+<?= // Begin the form
+  $this->Form->create($vv_person, [
     'id'   => 'person-confirm-delete',
     'type' => 'post',
     'url'  => ['action' => 'delete', $vv_person->id]
   ]);
+?>
 
-  print $this->element('notify/alert', [
+<div id="info-soft-delete">
+  <?= $this->element('notify/alert', [
+    'message' => __d('information', 'People.delete.soft'),
+    'type' => 'information'
+  ]); ?>
+</div>
+<div id="danger-hard-delete" class="invisible">
+  <?= $this->element('notify/alert', [
     'message' => __d('information', 'People.delete.hard'),
-    'type' => 'warning'
-  ]);
+    'type' => 'danger'
+  ]); ?>
+</div>
 
-// XXX is this going to be a standard supported by StandardController?
-//     if so update developer documentation
-  print $this->Form->checkbox('hard-delete') . "\n";
-  print $this->Form->label('hard-delete', __d('operation', 'delete.hard')) . "\n";
+<div class="submit-with-flags">
+  <?= // This is the exposed button that the user clicks (but not the actual submit button)
+    $this->Form->button(__d('operation', 'delete.soft'),[
+    'type' => 'button',
+    'id' => 'person-delete-button',
+    'class' => 'btn btn-primary',
+    'data-bs-toggle' => 'modal',
+    'data-bs-target' => '#dialog'
+  ]) . "\n"; ?>
 
-  print $this->Form->submit(__d('operation', 'delete'), ['class' => 'btn-sm']) . "\n";
+  <?= // Checkbox to switch to hard delete (instead of soft delete) 
+    $this->Form->control('hard-delete', [
+    'type' => 'checkbox',
+    'label' => __d('operation', 'delete.hard.perform'),
+    'class' => 'form-check-input',
+    'id' => 'hard-delete'
+  ]) . "\n"; ?>
 
-  print $this->Form->end() . "\n";
-?>
+  <?= // This is the hidden submit button that is activated by our confirmation dialog.
+    $this->Form->submit(__d('operation', 'delete'), [
+    'id' => 'delete-confirmed',
+    'class' => 'invisible'
+  ]) . "\n"; ?>
+</div>
+
+<?= $this->Form->end() . "\n"; ?>
+
+<script nonce="<?= $vv_js_nonce ?>">
+  $(function() {
+    // Toggle hard and soft delete information
+    $('#hard-delete').click(function() {
+      if($(this).is(':checked')) {
+        $('#danger-hard-delete').removeClass('invisible');
+        $('#info-soft-delete').addClass('invisible');
+        $('#person-delete-button')
+          .removeClass('btn-primary')
+          .addClass('btn-secondary')
+          .text('<?= __d('operation', 'delete.hard') ?>'
+        );
+      } else {
+        $('#danger-hard-delete').addClass('invisible');
+        $('#info-soft-delete').removeClass('invisible');
+        $('#person-delete-button')
+          .removeClass('btn-secondary')
+          .addClass('btn-primary')
+          .text('<?= __d('operation', 'delete.soft') ?>'
+        );
+      }
+    });
+    
+    // Delete confirmation
+    $('#person-delete-button').click(function(e) {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      jsConfirmGeneric(
+        '<?= __d('operation', 'delete.confirm', [$vv_person->primary_name->full_name]) ?>',
+        '',
+        'delete-confirmed',
+        '<?= __d('operation', 'delete') ?>',
+        '<?= __d('operation', 'cancel') ?>',
+        '<?= __d('operation', 'delete') ?>'
+      );
+    });
+  });
+</script>
 
 <!-- XXX clean up from here -->
 <?php return; ?>
diff --git a/app/templates/People/fields.inc b/app/templates/People/fields.inc
index ed7997ea5..3fc77a299 100644
--- a/app/templates/People/fields.inc
+++ b/app/templates/People/fields.inc
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ if($vv_action == 'add') {
     // The initial name must be primary
     'names.0.primary_name' => true
   ];
-} elseif($vv_action == 'edit') {
+} else {
   $a = $vv_obj->extract(['person_role_id', 'person_id']);
   
   $useDeleteSplashPage = true;
diff --git a/app/templates/Standard/add-edit-view.php b/app/templates/Standard/add-edit-view.php
index 53b0e90eb..0f197e01c 100644
--- a/app/templates/Standard/add-edit-view.php
+++ b/app/templates/Standard/add-edit-view.php
@@ -153,8 +153,22 @@
             $perm = $vv_permissions[$linkModel][$t['link']['action']];
           }
 
-          // Inject a link to the current object ID
-          $t['link']['?'][\App\Lib\Util\StringUtilities::entityToForeignKey($vv_obj)] = $vv_obj->id;
+          // This fixes the link in the gear icon in the Person Canvas view.
+          // Inject a link to the current object ID, unless an equivalent specific foreign key
+          // (like subject_person_id) is already provided in the query arguments.
+          $fk = \App\Lib\Util\StringUtilities::entityToForeignKey($vv_obj);
+          $hasFk = false;
+          if(!empty($t['link']['?'])) {
+            foreach($t['link']['?'] as $k => $v) {
+              if($v === $vv_obj->id && (str_ends_with($k, '_' . $fk) || $k === $fk)) {
+                $hasFk = true;
+                break;
+              }
+            }
+          }
+          if(!$hasFk) {
+            $t['link']['?'][$fk] = $vv_obj->id;
+          }
         } else {
           $perm = $vv_permissions[$t['link']['action']];
 
diff --git a/app/webroot/css/co-base.css b/app/webroot/css/co-base.css
index 696489899..9b2db84e5 100644
--- a/app/webroot/css/co-base.css
+++ b/app/webroot/css/co-base.css
@@ -477,6 +477,7 @@ body.cos.select #top-bar {
   margin-right: 0.25em;
 }
 .co-alert a {
+  color: var(--cmg-color-link-darker);
   text-decoration: underline;
 }
 /* Alerts in the add-edit form: */
@@ -1485,6 +1486,36 @@ a.cm-row-button:focus {
   border: 1px solid var(--cmg-color-btn-bg-001);
   color: var(--cmg-color-txt-inverse) !important;
 }
+#person-confirm-delete {
+  margin-left: 1em;
+}
+#person-confirm-delete .alert {
+  display: inline-block;
+}
+ul.delete-info-list {
+  margin: 0 1rem 1.5rem;
+  padding: 0;
+}
+ul.delete-info-list li {
+  margin-top: 1rem;
+  line-height: 1.75rem;
+  list-style: none;
+  font-family: var(--cmg-font-semibold);
+}
+ul.delete-info-list li:first-child {
+  margin-top: 0;
+}
+ul.delete-info-list li li {
+  margin-top: 0;
+  font-weight: 400;
+  list-style: circle;
+  font-family: var(--cmg-font-regular);
+}
+#content ul.delete-info-list .material-symbols-outlined {
+  font-size: 1.5rem;
+  margin-top: -4px;
+  vertical-align: middle;
+}
 /* DATA LISTS */
 ul.data-list {
   padding-left: 0;
@@ -1588,6 +1619,11 @@ ul.form-list li.fields-submit {
 ul.form-list li.fields-submit .field:hover {
   background-color: var(--cmg-color-body-bg);
 }
+.submit-with-flags {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.75rem;
+}
 ul.form-list .field-name {
   display: block;
 }
diff --git a/app/webroot/css/co-variables.css b/app/webroot/css/co-variables.css
index 363206936..f749cf7e0 100644
--- a/app/webroot/css/co-variables.css
+++ b/app/webroot/css/co-variables.css
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
   /* Links (primary) */
   --cmg-color-link: #06c;            /* primary hyperlink color (blue); accessible on backgrounds down to #e7e7e7 */
   --cmg-color-link-hover: #115791;   /* primary hyperlink hover color (blue); accessible on backgrounds down to #c9c9c9 */
+  --cmg-color-link-darker: #005EBD;  /* slightly darker hyperlink color for use on alert backgrounds */
 
   /* Buttons */
   --cmg-color-btn-bg-001: #115791;   /* primary button background color (blue), submit buttons, .btn-primary, pagination */