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Good Morning John , Hope you have a blessed day , Even when Robert move I shall not forget your kindness you have shown , if their was more like you to help sincerely without partiality upon this journey it wouldnâ€™t be as rough . My Gratitude to you again .

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You are the best !!!! I appreciate your help John I really do .... I pray this move will be closer if at all possible so that I can be of more support to help . No words can’t express my gratitude 🏼

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Greetings,
I just wanted to express my gratitude for Mr.Hardgrove. I had a love one Inmate  Robert Asafo Williams housed at Houtzdale who has since been transferred I had  grave concerns concerning his well being as he was being  held in RHU . After contacting Prison Society Mr Hardgrove undertook the task to ease my fears by his continual support by phone calls daily to the prison  and  would return my texts to keep me updated as I feared for his safety. Most importantly even once my love one was transferred to Camp Hill a week ago Mr. Hardgrove made a  surprise visit as he was there on other business, how great was that!!  He assured me he was doing as well as expected  still being held in RHU which again put my heart at ease . Hopefully if  all the Prison Society  employers take their job as seriously and with as much dedication as Mr. Hardgrove it would lift many burdens for those of us who have love ones incarcerated. Again I Thank him .
All Things Are Possible
Best Regards
Sandra Nan Hill

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Reflections on Compassionate release from the Hospice Care Team SCI Phoenix/Pennsylvania

First story

I shall reflect on the very first patient/inmate who I witnessed released to a Hospice Care facility. And the joy Brother Abdul displayed when it came time for him to sign out of Graterford Prison. His new abode was at the Old Saint Agnes Burn Center which had been converted into a full time hospice care facility. Upon arrival his family had been waiting with some real classy pajamas and bath robe. Brother Abdul immediately sent us some pictures of his room with a view from the balcony with overnight accommodations for his family. Brother Abdul didn’t focus on how many days he had left in this realm, but in the beauty found in the quality of life, in the joyous moment.

As a hospice care provider going on 14 years now, there hasn’t been a “Compassionate Release” witnessed by or for any other patient that was smooth and trouble free for all parties involved. This is the compassionate release policy we need to have reinstated. (H.H. SCI Phoenix)

Second Story Hospice Team SCI Phoenix

As a hospice volunteer worker, when we think about Compassionate Release, I believe a prisoner should be able to die with dignity along-side their family members.  The last person I remember was Mr. Frank R . I can remember Frank like it was yesterday. Frank was a person that was thankful for each day and for everything that was done for him. He got the chance to get out on compassionate release and the next day he passed away, his family by his side. God Bless his Soul. Most of us don’t want to die in prison. So for that reason I am so happy that compassionate release exists. (A.W. SCI Phoenix)

Third Story Hospice Team SCI Phoenix

Compassionate release is important to me because being terminally ill in prison isn’t only a slow, depressed and lonely death to the prisoner, but it is also a heavy burden on the prisoner’s family as well.

Let’s be real. Everyone knows that prisoners don’t get the best medical treatment. Although there are a lot of nurses to help here and they do care and do everything they can to assist the terminal patient, but they can only do as much as the head doctor’s and Superintendent’s allow. Everything is very limited. For example, Frankie was one of our hospice patients. He wanted to eat but couldn’t stomach the prison food. He loved eating scrambled eggs and he could stomach that. But special meals were not approved. Despite his family visiting him, they could only visit him two people at a time which put a burden on the family. If he had been released, the family could have been by his side at his final moments and made him more comfortable. There wouldn’t be any limits during the dying process. I believe everyone deserves to die with dignity and be with their family while going through the end of life process. This is why compassionate release is important to me. (J.D.C. SCI Phoenix)

Fourth Story Hospice Team SCI Phoenix

The last and only person that I know who received compassionate release was Mr. Frank “Frankie” Rodriguez. It gave me hope that there are people with authority who have a heart. I was overjoyed with emotions when I found out Frankie was granted compassionate release. I remember clinching a victory fist with the arm pump closing my eyes and saying “Yes!” I was so happy for Frankie. But waiting for that answer for compassionate release I was so nervous for him because I knew they didn’t really grant compassionate release in Pennsylvania. However, I also knew Frankie was determined because he told me he wasn’t going to die in prison, and he didn’t. The process was so long and drawn out. I was getting upset because it was taking months and Frankie only had days to live. Frankie inspired me so much because of his mental strength. Despite having days to life he held on for those months and was eventually granted compassionate release. He left the prison on a Friday around 4 PM and passed away Sunday morning around 4-5 AM.

I relay wish there would be a way to get sick patients out faster. I believe when a person is diagnosed with a disease that could be terminal that the family/attorney should be able to file the paperwork in advance. This way everything would be completed while the patient is going through treatment. This way everything would be ready if the patient is deemed terminal. Once give the diagnoses of being terminal and given less than a year to live, the proper authority would be notified and the patient released within 24 hours. If the patient recovery goes into remission the pre-compassionate release papers would become void and destroyed. Most patients in prison die within a couple of days of being diagnosed as terminal. They don’t have a chance at compassionate release. (J.D.C. SCI Phoenix)

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(From office lobby form)

I have been riding the Society bus for over one year. It's the only service I have been able to find that goes to Muncy, PA where I visit. Not only it is great to be able to spend time with my love done, but I have also created great relationships. I have become friends with other regular riders who I see on my bus and this has meant a lot. The other services offered by the Society are very helpful as well. I love riding the Society bus and am looking forward to sharing it with others who have family and friends who are in the prison system.

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While attending the Community College of Philadelphia, Joseph Robinson became an intern at the Pennsylvania Prison Society. While interning, he got involved with the mentoring program and is now a coordinator and mentor. With the work he does, Joe is able to help people who are formerly incarcerated do things like get housing, get into college, build resumes, and find and prepare for jobs.

As a current Temple Student who used to be incarcerated, helping someone get into college is always a great success for Joe. He believes that education is where it starts. Whenever he speaks with mentees after they have gone to school, they always tell him that it was a really big step in the right direction. Being able to give back as a mentor has really impacted Joe, and every time he helps someone get a job or to go to school that action is never going to waste. Seeing mentees fulfill their goals makes him feel like his are being accomplished as well.

Joe is a dedicated mentor because he really wants people to do right. With family and friends who have been incarcerated, and being incarcerated himself, Joe knows that life can be tough but you can always turn it around. He also recognizes that many of the people he mentors do not have a good support system, but he has the chance to give them that support.

Joe is able to do such meaningful work with an organization that he feels is very helpful, shows passion, and will always help those in need to achieve their goals to the best of their abilities. The Prison Society aims to achieve the best results possible for those who need their help, and everyone gives their best effort.

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When Prison Society mentors visited with a program he was in while incarcerated, Darnell Johnson liked what they had to offer and signed up. The Prison Society was one group that Darnell felt truly had a presence in the prison, and for that reason he decided to follow through with their program. Even before being released, the Darnell felt that the Prison Society really helped him get through being incarcerated. With a mentor, he always had someone to talk to and when he did come home the support only grew. He got help with building a resume and looking for jobs, and even when his mother passed away his mentor was there for him and helped him to get through it. Whether it was a just a listening ear or for practical help, Darnell really feels that his mentor always has his back.

Darnell is now taking strides to attain his commercial driver’s license and feels inspired to more forward and change his life, knowing that he always has his mentor to reach out to if he ever has any problems or questions. Having a mentor has gone a long way for Darnell, and being able to add his mentor to his resume is significant to him. His mentor calls him often to check in to make sure he is still on the right track and doing the right things, and Darnell points out that sometimes you really need this kind of accountability. He commends his mentor for helping him, which has put Darnell in the position to be able to tell his own story.

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Helping the People that the World has Forgotten About

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Helping the People that the World has Forgotten About

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Dave Akers lived in Oregon for nearly 10 years where he volunteered in prisons. When he moved to Pennsylvania in 2016, he began searching for opportunities to continue the work he did in Oregon. He came across the Prison Society online and immediately joined. Shortly thereafter Dave became an Official Visitor in 2017.

Dave now visits Graterford every Monday night to mentor men as they prepare for their last day in prison. Dave also connects with two men who were released about two months ago as they try to get their lives on track and started again. His ultimate goal is to help them think through what they need to do to be successful. He coaches them on how to do things like getting a driver's license, encourages them while they apply to jobs, and will soon introduce have conversations with them about budgeting and spending money.

Dave has found that one of the biggest components of mentoring is helping people who have been incarcerated for a while to understand that things are different today than they probably were when they first went to prison. Dave was once describing to someone that you can now deposit a check with a cell phone, and it completely baffled them. Someone else tried to explain what it is like to walk around while everyone is staring at their hands because people are so attached to their phones now.

Over the past 15 years, Dave went from working with people in Massachusetts, Oregon, and Pennsylvania where people were locked up for a myriad of reasons. Now, Dave feels that he is less judgemental because he has a much better understanding of the fact that sometimes people make mistakes then tend to pay for it for a long time, and our society is not very good at forgiving people.

His 15 years involved in helping people who have been incarcerated have made a true difference. While in Oregon, Dave was able to offer  someone who did not have an ID, job, or a place to live support by being there for him. A few years later Dave received a text message from him showing off his new license and got a call from him the other day sharing news that he would be a father and that he is the manager of a leather goods store.

As a Christian, Dave takes it pretty seriously when the Bible says that you should do what you can to help the poor, sick, elderly, and the prisoner. As a Prison Society mentor he is able to hold true to these convictions and strives to help people who have been incarcerated to cope with life since many of them do not have a strong support system. “The Prison Society helps those that the world forgot about, and that’s a pretty great thing to do. It works with people that the rest of the world doesn’t want to deal with.”

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Looking to get closer to home and prepare himself for his transition, Jack Hynson signed up for the mentoring program with the Prison Society. Once he began working with Prison Society mentors, he really felt prepared for what was to come. He learned who would and would not hire him, exactly where to look for jobs, and how to do it. This was in contrast to other programs, where Jack felt the set up was more like instructional classes rather than something that would show  him how to take action steps. Prison Society mentors actually helped Jack apply the things they spoke about. One of the mentors, Steve, would even take mentees around himself to apply for different jobs. “Sometimes you’ll go around all day until someone says yes.”

Within two weeks of being home, Jack found a job with the help of his mentors. Even after finding a job, he knows that his relationship with his mentor will last a lifetime. Jack often gets calls from his mentors checking up on him, asking about his life, teaching him about saving money, and hashing out what his next steps are. Whether your goals are to go to school without ruining your finances or to start a business someday, they want to support you and help you achieve them. It also makes a difference for Jack to be mentored by people who have been incarcerated themselves, because they understand what he is going through on a level that others do not. They really know what it is like to be in the same situation and circumstances that he faces.

The Prison Society’s mentoring program has helped Jack in achieving his own goals of moving forward to not go back to prison. Jack has seen that the Prison Society is there for you because they actually want to help, that they are there in a different capacity than guards and other people you interact with while in prison, because they just want to help you.

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Learning the Ropes with a Society Mentor

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Learning the Ropes with a Society Mentor

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Near the end of his sentence, Malik Smith moved to a Transitional Housing Unit and began participating in their  programs. It was there that he first learned about the Prison Society. This moment would lead up to Malik feeling truly prepared for life on the outside. From sharing job postings to resume building, the mentoring program at the Prison Society is what made Malik feel that he was set up for opportunity.

Although there are other re-entry programs available, Malik stuck with the Prison Society where he knew he would receive hands on help. Seeing his mentor, Joseph Robinson, one-on-one and hearing from him during his frequent check-ins made all the difference for Malik. Before returning home, Malik didn’t know much about preparing a resume or how to look for jobs, nor what to expect during the process when he started. Gaining a Prison Society mentor gave him insight that he lacked, which was the greatest help for him. Malik says that some people don't really want to help themselves, but if you really do, then The Prison Society is there to help you do it.

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A Message of Hope When it Seemed Only Darkness Lied Ahead

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A Message of Hope When it Seemed Only Darkness Lied Ahead

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A few weeks ago John Rush, a long time Official Visitor, received a letter from someone he visited in prison years ago. He thanked John for speaking positively to him and giving him insight that no one else had. In spite of facing a life sentence, John assured him that he could live a meaningful life on the inside. Three years later, he reported that he had reconciled with his wife who now visits with their children. John spent one hour in a day room talking with a newly incarcerated man who had viewed his future as a dark road ahead and years later his positive words still resonate. John pays homage to his Official Visitor status, pointing out that he would never have been able to make such a lasting impact on someone acting in another capacity.

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by Antoinette Jackson

When my husband was transferred to Mercer there was no way to visit him--it was an inmate who told my husband about the Prison Society buses. I've been riding now for about a year.

I look forward to it because it's quiet and comfortable --there's little tv's and comfortable seats and a bathroom. I call it my relaxing time. I put my earphones and go to sleep.

It's stressful--you're alone. The visits help because I get to see him with my own eyes and touch him  and smell him. Without the bus, it's just a phone call. The seven hours we spend together every other month fly by. We laugh, eat, read and there's stuff that you can't so over the phone--you can say it because right next to each other.

When I leave, it's hard. It's a bond when we together and then it's... over. The same loneliness comes back. But I'm also exhausted and thankful I can rest on the way home. I'm happy I found the Prison Society.

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Matthew Parris

I'm originally from New York, so I did not have much support once I was released from prison in Pennsylvania. I moved into a halfway house and began trying to take my next steps on my own but no feasible options turned up, plus I initially could only travel within three counties that did not include Philadelphia. While I was still incarcerated, I learned about the Prison Society when I signed up for a reintegration program to give myself the opportunity to get acclimated with different resources available. One of these resources was the Society's mentoring program.

I decided to reach out to Joseph Robinson, one of the mentors with the Prison Society who I had met previously, and quickly learned that the Prison Society provides a vast amount of information and resources that can help those who have been incarcerated. With the support and guidance of my mentor, I now have two part time jobs, and one of them particularly aligns with my interests and skills. On top of that, I have also registered for school. Without the Prison Society, I don't know where I would be or what my situation would be. "I don’t want to say that I would not have gotten a job, but I just really don’t see it happening."

The follow-up was just as impactful as the direct support that I received from my mentor. I know that I can call or text my mentor at any time, who is still in touch with me often. I feel that having a network for individuals in situations like my own has made a monumental impact, and the program helps to relay the message that although people who have been incarcerated may have some bruises and hit some bumps, they are still employable and valuable.

I realized that there are many resources available for people who have been incarcerated that people just don’t know about, and I am happy that I found the real deal with the Prison Society, where my mentor went above and beyond to help me and to create a plan that was tailored to my needs.

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The Prison Society Holds Up To It's Name 

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The Prison Society Holds Up To It's Name 

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After returning home from prison, Shinoa Ford payed a visit to the Prison Society and his soon-to-be-mentor Joseph Robinson. He was able to get help with things like building a resume and looking for jobs, and he also signed up for community college. After hearing Joe talk about being in school himself and his own experiences, he thought “Wow! Let me try it.”

Two and a half years after being home, Shinoa has his own place, a job, and even just paid off his student loans. Although Shinoa stopped taking classes in light of his work schedule, being able to attend for two semesters was impactful. He is still in contact with Joe, who he says has become his friend, and knows that the Prison Society is always there to guide him in making decisions and finding resources.

Shinoa was drawn to the Prison Society just by its name, because even reading it gave him the inclination that they were really there to help, and he was right. He found that the Prison Society will make a true effort to connect you with the right people and resources. He felt that once he was released, other organizations shunned him, but the Prison Society was there. Shinoa says he got help from the Society for everything, from clothes to vouchers and even getting a TransPass to go to school. He also feels that he is a responsible, productive member of society today thanks to the Prison Society assisting him with getting started in life and really finding his way.

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From an OV: We Are All "Works in Progress"

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From an OV: We Are All "Works in Progress"

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I first learned about Sharon at an exhibit at Eastern State Penitentiary. Artist Mary Dewitt was showing her portraits of women lifers and Sharon was one of them. I We then exchanged letters for a brief time in 1996. I met Sharon in-person in 2011.

It was Sharon who suggested I become an OV in order to visit and meet her friends in the hopes that I could help them. She was at that point in the legal pipeline as a juvenile lifer. So I agreed. I only knew her for the last two years of her life but Sharon became a part of my family. She died in her cell at Muncy in 2013.  When she died, the earth came off of its axis!  We all truly expected her to be free one day. The out pouring of grief and tributes that came my way was massive. I was unable to be a private OV at that point. Everyone shared my home address!  Sharon's trust and faith in me as an OV encouraged others to seek me out. And they did and still do.

The support I gave Sharon was in writing her commutation application before the US Supreme Court took the Miller v. Alabama case. I sent her legal up dates about the case and I attended the oral arguments for her. I organized a public meeting about LWOP in my community so people knew about her and LWOP for kids and adults.  I had to call the infirmary a couple of times about her health.  She steered me in the direction of other knowledgable and helpful people, like Joan Porter.

The trickiest part of being an OV is staying on good terms with the prison staff and communicating to prisoners that I am not an attorney. But being an OV leads you to many different roads and journeys. There is a massive learning curve. We definitely cannot do this work alone.

I don't keep track of the people whose lives I may have impacted. This is a constant struggle! It's like a moving target. Like the women I am in contact with I am a work-in-progress. I am told that I am helpful and that people appreciate what I do.

Photo of Sharon "Peachie" Wiggins, Ellen Melchiondo and  son Michael at SCI Muncy.

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My name is Joanne Haywood and I ride Society buses every other month to visit my husband who has been incarcerated for 6 years. I heard about the Society bussing services through word of mouth. I used to catch vans but they weren't always reliable and there are certain perks to riding society buses. When the waiting room gets overly crowded at the prison, Society bus riders are guaranteed a spot, while others are turned away and asked to leave. When you ride the bus, you know you will arrive safely and will have a comfortable ride. Fellow bus riders also provide friendship and community with people who are going through what you are.

Being on the outside when your loved one is on the inside is difficult. But that's an understatement. They're doing time but it’s like your doing time too. Every other month, I get up at 3:00am in the morning to get to where the bus picks me up. The night before I pretty much don't sleep because I'm anxious--thinking about making sure I have everything and that transportation to get to the bus arrives on time--all told it is expensive, too. Between transportation to get to the bus, the bus ride, and the cost of food along the way. The worst part of the day is when it's time to go and you can't take your loved one with you. You go home and wonder what goes on at the jail. You wait for a phone calls because it’s not like you can call them and if they get locked down you don't hear from them at all. The prison isn't always communicative about what's going on.

The Prison Society is great if you have issues with the prison and have great staff that works with you. It seems like The Society is privy to information we can't get. They can cut through the red tape to help family members on the outside get information about loved ones on the inside. The Society helps us sort through and maneuver what's going on. They are in the business of keeping families together by providing transportation to get to our loved ones and see them. But they do so much more than provide transportation as well.

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I worked with high school students who were breaking school rules and realized some of them were going to continue on the path to prison. That's why I became an official visitor and have been one now for for 8 years.

One impactful experience I've had working as an OV is in our two state correctional facilities where we have been participating in an annual Day of Responsibility. The Day of Responsibility is a day long program organized jointly by the Lifer's group, the local chapter of the Prison Society and some professors and students at Juniata College. It is attended by about 50-60 inmates and the purpose is to get the men to reflect on the damage their crime has done to their victims,  society, and themselves. It is a powerful tool which was the brain child of an inmate from our SCIH who was a JLWP and has now gained his freedom and is a returning citizen in the Philadelphia area. Interactions such as these give me hope that rehabilitation is possible.

The prison society is a life line for men and women who have few other resources for hope.

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I became on OV to better understand the criminal justice system from the insights of the inmates  and to learn the procedures and policies of the administration.

A moving experience I had as an OV was as part of a graduation ceremony at SCI Chester. Pomp and circumstance was played all graduates of various programs marched in wearing cap and gown.

The family's present were proud and overjoyed to see their loved one be recognized for achieving such a goal. The graduates appeared to feel that they had achieved something positive and were anxious to have their pictures taken with their loved ones.

The warden at SCI Chester is outstanding in all she has done to improve the culture of the prison for inmates and guards as well.

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Why I joined the PPS and am still engaged 14 years later.

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Why I joined the PPS and am still engaged 14 years later.

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A Rap Release would have to start by saying that the eight years I served as an Official Visitor at Muncy SCI were the most meaningful years of my life. Most of the women with whom I interacted inspired me and left me feeling so blessed just having known them. One woman I visited was serving a ten-to-twenty year sentence. When she first became eligible for parole, she was frightened to appear before the officer because she was shy and “slow of speech”.  As with many persons with a speech impediment, speaking or performing on stage presents a comfort zone. She was very comfortable speaking in Rap, and was in fact a poet. She had written many rap poems and presented them at church services at the prison. One day she told me she had written about her life in Rap. It was quite amazing.I asked her if she would be comfortable doing that Rap for the Parole Board agent when she was asked to tell her story. It included her crime, what lead up to it, her acceptance of guilt, her rehabilitation at Muncy, her hopes for the future. She was reluctant, thinking that it would be disrespectful.  I encouraged her. Others had told me that most often one didn’t get paroled the first time before the Board, especially when the sentence was long. So I convinced her that it was worth a try.Well, she did it! And parole was recommended. In fact, the Parole Board agent asked her to do it again for another officer. As with all of the women I visited, I don’t know where their paths led when they were released, but I hope that I encouraged them to use the talents they possessed to forge their way forward.
--Janie Burd

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When at the end of their weekly, hour-long meeting two mentees complain to their mentor that “🤬, we were just getting started; there are still several things we wanted to discuss.” ….some good things are happening.

When a mentee arranges for his mentor to meet his daughter and his brother,  something good is happening.

When a mentee calls his mentor on the first day of his release to share his happiness and excitement, good things are happening.

When, between visits, a mentee is calling or writing letters to his mentor from prison, good things are happening.

When a mentee is reading and wanting to discuss books his mentor sent to him, good things are happening.

When a mentee is eager to share with his mentor a paper he is writing for a theology course offered by Villanova, a good sharing of ideas is happening.

When a former mentee (now a teacher in an employment skills program for returning citizens) calls his mentor to refer one of his current students, several  very good things are happening.

When a former mentee calls his mentor to say, “Hey, this Thursday will be one year from the date of my release.  Can we get together to talk…. or just  celebrate?”  ….again, something good is happening.

When a former mentee texts his mentor to say, “Hey, I got that interview; can I use you as a reference?” or “Hey, I got that job; just wanted to say thanks.”  ….something very good is happening.

When a former mentee says, "Hey, I want to be a mentor.  What do I have to do to get signed up?" ...this is a very, very good thing.

And finally, when the mentors are looking out for one another in the midst of a health crisis or personal problems, a strong and caring team is being built.

Mentoring is definitely not for everyone.  A mentor has to be a very good and a very discerning listener.  You need to think about what you are hearing and what it means.  A mentor has to be reliable.  You don’t make promises you don’t keep and you don’t show up for meetings sporadically.  (Mentors must commit to at least a year at a time of at least one meeting per week at state prisons, as much as an hour's commute each way.  Mentors continue to meet with mentees at their request following their release.)

A mentor has to be genuinely caring and genuinely interested, but also unmistakably demanding.  Accountability works both ways.  If a mentee does not seem to have the “right frame of mind”, he or she needs to be told that.  If a mentee is not preparing adequately for an upcoming parole hearing, he or she needs to be told that.

A mentor has to be resourceful and willing to find information and locate resources he or she does not already possess.  Every returning citizen has different dreams and a different set of needs and skills.  The first few weeks are absolutely vital in giving returning men and women a sense of forward motion,  accomplishment and confidence.   The opportunities and resources for returning citizens are expanding rapidly, but they have to be a good match for those seeking them.

And finally, a mentor needs to be reality-based.  He or she should not communicate to a mentee goals or expectations that are unrealistic, unattainable or inappropriate.  Failure can be demoralizing.  Mentors must realize how very hard it is to make it in a world that does not welcome you, in a world for which you have been so poorly prepared to succeed, a world which often holds you in very low regard and a world that has only minimal expectations of you.

For nearly three years our small band of Prison Society (Philadelphia region) mentors has been gathering each week in the waiting area of two regional  state prisons.  We know one another well and work well together. We take an active interest in one another's experiences and seek one another' s counsel. We deeply appreciate the unique skills and perspectives that our fellow mentors possess. Together, we can say without hesitation that the mentor/mentee relationship is a gift to all of us... mentor and mentee alike.  The relationships that are forged in the process of our work are profoundly meaningful, even transformative, for both the mentee and the mentor.

Mentor Volunteers of F.I.R.S.T.
(Families and Individuals Reintegrating Successfully Together)
Pa. Prison Society (Philadelphia Region)

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My name is John Taglianetti from Ambler PA.  i have been a member of the Prison Society for two years.

I became acquainted with the society as a result of my association with the Graterford Gray Panthers who is housed with the Society in Center City.

i visit several members of the board and am an outside director of the Graterford Gray Panthers LLC. Our assocation with the Prison Society has moved our cause forward giving us the credibility and the means to assist our LWOP members in the hopes to eventually provide them with the well deserved commutation they so deserve.

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Celebrating 100 Years of Life With An Official Visit

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Celebrating 100 Years of Life With An Official Visit

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On the day before her 100th birthday, Jane Johnson, our oldest Official Visitor and a former Official Visitor of the year visited a Maurice at Graterford. Jane has been visiting Maurice for years and the two exchange phone calls, cards in between visits. In her earlier years as an official visitor Jane also visited women incarcerated at Muncy. Thank you, Jane, for your long-standing support of the Prison Society.

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Thomas McGinley, a Noteworthy Superintendent

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Thomas McGinley, a Noteworthy Superintendent

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(Nominated for Correctional Employee of the Year)

Right from the door, this man was so welcoming to us as Prison Society visitors. His door is ALWAYS open, and he genuinely listens to concerns we have as volunteer advocates for the inmates in his prison. He is fair, objective, and always considerate. If I ever have an issue that needs his concern, he always returns with an email or a phone call the same day.

I have seen Superintendent McGinley do some truly noteworthy things. One that will always stay in my memory was toward a young woman and child waiting to get in to see the girl's father. They had been told to leave by the desk staff because the mother had brought the child's birth certificate, but not a second form of ID for her little girl. (The policy had recently changed, and she had not been made aware of it in time.)

In any event, the woman and her little girl left the prison crying for the return 2 1/2-hour trip to Philadelphia. But they were only out the door a couple minutes when Superintendent McGinley walked into the lobby and I explained to him what had happened. No sooner had I gotten the words out then he rushed out the door without a coat in the inclement weather. A few minutes later, he walked back into the lobby with the now happy mom and child. Never before had I seen a superintendent go the extra mile like he did. Later he explained to me that "rules are important but so is human compassion." He explained the rules to her and told her next time she would need both forms of ID. She has gladly complied with that.

There are so many more reasons my husband and I wish to nominate this man, but I hope that example will suffice to show what kind of an individual he is. He can be tough when he needs to be, but he is always fair and treats everyone with respect. At the Day of Responsibility, his speech to the inmates was almost a motivational speech. I looked around the room and saw many of the men sitting up straighter, surprised that his tone conveyed not censure, but an encouragement to be the best men they could be.

It is an absolute honor to "work" with someone like him who truly believes that anyone who puts his or her mind to it, can change for the better. He is very encouraging to me and my husband, and to many of the inmates as well.  Superintendent McGinley has also started, for the first time at Coal Township, a lifer's honor block and a mentoring program where long-termers and lifers mentor younger inmates.  He has also expressed a willingness to work with more people on the outside who are interested in mentoring. We are currently trying to get interest in our local community and get people trained. Superintendent McGinley said he would be entirely open to them doing this at his prison.

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Counselor Kunig, An Instrumental Advocate  

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Counselor Kunig, An Instrumental Advocate  

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(Nominated for Correctional Officer of the Year)

I suffer from chronic PTSD, and as a result, have been z-coded (without a cellmate) for 25 years. In 2016, I was forcibly double celled with another inmate, which lead to a violent attack. After the attack, the prison labeled me “ultra-violent” and removed me from general population. I was placed in solitary confinement, further exacerbating my PTSD. I was assigned to Ms. Kunig and she helped me; looking into my files and discovering that my z-code should have never been removed and that I should be reassigned from solitary. She fought for me and demanded that I be evaluated by the psychological review team, which finally happened (for the first time). Due to her commitment I was eventually reassigned a z-code and transferred back to general population from solitary. I owe her a debt of gratitude to her; were it not for her compassion and strong leadership, I’m certain I would not have survived much longer in solitary confinement. If I ever amount to anything of significance in this lifetime, I can unequivocally state that Ms. Kunig played an instrumental role in making that happen.

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Danielle Minarchick, Beyond the Paycheck 

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Danielle Minarchick, Beyond the Paycheck 

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(Nominated for Correctional Employee of the Year)

A lot of correctional employees go to work every day and put in their time simply to collect a pay check.  Danielle does work every day and collects a pay check, but what sets her apart is that she believes deeply in helping individual inmates. This attitude is shown in the way she interacts with inmates and the quality of work she does on their behalf.  I have witnessed firsthand her going the extra mile for an inmate who needed placement in a rehab. The amount of time and energy she put in on helping just this one individual was simply remarkable.

Danielle has been an employee at Centre County Correctional Facility for 13 years, where she is a counselor.  Besides meeting with inmates individually, she has started several programs for inmates and serves on many committees.  Some of her work includes:

-       Helping start a Re-entry support group that meets weekly.

-       Helping to start Building Hope Mentoring Program which pairs mentors with inmates before they are released.

-       Member of the Centre County Re-Entry Coalition.

-       Teaches Choices and Pride classes at the Centre County Correctional Facility.

-       Sits on the HOPE (Heron & Opioid Prevention Education) Initiative.

-       Serves on the Life Skills subcommittee of the Re-Entry Coalition.

-       Was instrumental in producing a Re-Entry Resource Guide.

Again, this list does not do justice to Danielle because it does not adequately portray her strong belief in helping individuals who are incarcerated.  Danielle truly is deserving of the Pennsylvania Prison Society Correctional Employee of the Year Award.

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Robert Blair, a Compassionate Yet Critical Mentor and Visitor 

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Robert Blair, a Compassionate Yet Critical Mentor and Visitor 

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(Nominated for Volunteer of the Year)

"Blair" is absolutely one of the most effective mentors/official visitors we have.  He is a dignified, gentle, and thoughtful man who knows firsthand the experience and the feelings of incarcerated men and women.  He combines his sensitivity to the circumstances of those he visits with an ability to listen carefully and compassionately, yet critically.   Rare is the man who can be supportive and critical at the same time.  Though "Blair" holds inmates to a high standard, they can tell immediately that he is non-judgmental; he is in their corner.  He is particularly effective in helping long-incarcerated juvenile lifers to begin to imagine another life - a life that will require of them skills and resourcefulness that they have not needed in their prison life.  Mr. Blair is one of those volunteers who actively and tirelessly educates himself so that he can better educate others.  His pursuit of knowledge, contacts and new resources seems to say, "I know that there is more to know.  I know that things are changing quickly."  Finally, "Blair" is reliable.  If he says he'll be there; he'll be there.  If he says he'll do it; it's done.  He has much to teach those who might wish to become mentors or official visitors.  And when he does teach, he teaches humbly and patiently.  He exudes optimism and positivity.

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Connie Martin, Holding up the World of the Prison Society Center County Chapter

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Connie Martin, Holding up the World of the Prison Society Center County Chapter

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(Nominated for Volunteer of the Year)

Connie has been a member of the Centre County chapter of PPS for about five years. During this time, she has emerged as one of our most important leaders in a number of ways.

First, when Mark and I agreed to become co-conveners, Connie volunteered to be our recording secretary for our chapter meetings.  This was a great act of support for the chapter.  It has kept the chapter organized and moving forward.

Second, Connie began attending Centre County Prison Board monthly meetings and reporting on them at our chapter meeting.  Through her persistence, we became convinced of the importance of a Prison Society presence at these meetings.  We now have a seat at the table with a name plate for the Prison Society, and it gives us a great opportunity to learn and to ask questions.

Third, Connie was the moving force behind our recent decision to apply for a grant from the Centre Community Foundation for money to conduct parenting classes for people incarcerated at our local jails and prisons.  The program we wish to employ, Parenting Inside Out, has gained national recognition for its quality, and the money would be used for materials and to train the facilitators.  Although the grant was not funded, by applying for the grant, Connie got all of us enthused about making this project a long-term goal of the Centre County Chapter.  Last month, the Centre Community Foundation offered PPS Centre County Chapter the opportunity to be a part of Centre Gives, an online fundraising event offered annually by the Foundation.   Connie facilitated our participation in this fundraising opportunity, which we plan to use to raise money for these classes.

Finally, Connie has been our point person for our chapter visits to SCI Rockview.  She has tirelessly met and then followed up on the concerns of those she visited.  She has also mentored new OVs by taking them along with her for these visits so that they can learn how to do them on their own.

Connie recently was out of town for over a month and during that time we realized how much of the world she holds up.  We struggled to meet our obligations to people incarcerated at Rockview, we pieced together volunteers to take minutes at our chapter meetings, and we made a big effort to make sure at least one of our members was available to go to the Prison Board meetings.  I need to add that Connie is an important sounding board for me and Mark when we are looking at the long-term future of the chapter.  She has the experience and the intuition to be able to imagine with us what is best.  In this and many other ways, Connie is a role model for all of us.

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Becky Mitchell, An Official Visitor Worth Being Cloned 

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Becky Mitchell, An Official Visitor Worth Being Cloned 

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(Nominated for Volunteer of the Year)

Becky has been an Official Visitor for 5 years and has seen at least 42 prisoners, many of them every other week or ever 2 weeks on a regular basis and sent countless letters and cards to even more prisoners than she sees. Most of these visits are to the Huntingdon and Smithfield institutions, but she has visited men at Albion, Somerset, Fayette, Laurel Highlands, and Mahanoy, when those locations happened to be convenient for her. In addition, she has regularly visited men at Houtzdale whom she had first met at Huntingdon. She has shown compassion when that was needed. In fact, one difficult prisoners would have been dropped by other OVs but she stayed with him. When she asked a former superintendent whether it was wise to keep visiting that person, he said to her: “Oh, keep visiting him. You are the only person he will talk to!”

Even beyond regular visiting, Becky has endlessly pursued her own problem of having false positives from a hand scan, by making numerous contacts to doctors to prover he innocence as well as contacting the proper prison authorities to work out a plan. The Huntingdon county chapter believes that her efforts to doggedly pursue her own needs will benefit other visitors, particularly family members, who may not have the avenues she does to make things right.
in more recent years, she has taken on the task of regularly picking up mail that comes to our chapter post office box, checking our records to see what chapter OV has been assigned to that prisoner, and then delivering the mail to the proper OV. That has been a very important, time consuming gift to the total chapter functioning.

We wish that we could clone Becky so that we could response even better to the many requests we get from our two local state prisons, and we hope that the appropriate recognition is given to her for all the work she does.

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Sherell Robinson, An Intern Turned Volunteer Still Going Above and Beyond

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Sherell Robinson, An Intern Turned Volunteer Still Going Above and Beyond

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(Nominated for Volunteer of the Year)

Sherell was an intern with the Prison Society in the past, and she recently became an Official Visitor. Sherell has made herself available to incarcerated families in Philadelphia in order to provide them resources and motivation and has done so for years without any recognition. She really focuses on helping these families increase their quality of life despite being in their unfortunate circumstances. She is sought out because people know they can really count her to bring them some light when it seems like they have no helpful answers or information. She is a dedicated worker and will go above and beyond the call of duty for prisoners and their families.

She has committed herself to be a great help and addition to the Prison Society as a volunteer. Sherell’s knowledge and personal connection to this has allowed her to become an asset. She deserves this award because of her hard work and dedication to the cause. Passionate about caring and helping others in their situation, she is dedicated and very deserving of this award. Sherell has a genuine care for those incarcerated and has a passion to help those who cannot help themselves.

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Naomi Blunt, A Quiet Advocate for All Women at Muncy

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Naomi Blunt, A Quiet Advocate for All Women at Muncy

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(Nominated for Inmate of the Year)

Naomi continues to inspire women who walk through the gates of Muncy to return home and be contributing members of society despite her serving a Life sentence. Her relentless advocacy is what makes her an ideal recipient of "Inmate of the year."

She is an inspiration to anyone she meets. She is helpful, hardworking, and willing to learn new things to increase her knowledge on not only prison life but also the real world. She is a member in the church and volunteers her time anywhere needed within the Prison. She not only has a good rapport with the inmates but also the staff. She is accountable for what landed her in prison and lives with the guilt of not only the victim but what her incarceration cost her son, her parents, and other loved ones.

She served 35 years, misconduct free, sings and plays piano for memorials and any occasion. She also co-wrote "This Is Not My Name" at TEDx Muncy. Naomi is a quiet advocate for all women at Muncy.

Other testaments, from women who have been incarcerated at Muncy:

- I was at Muncy twice, 10 years apart. Both times I watched this lady. She is a good woman who will offer an ear or direction to anyone who asks. Her direction is heartfelt and personal. When I was in the Drug & Alcohol program at Muncy, she took time to come over and share her personal story, one that was open and honest. The good and the bad, where she came from, how she got where she is. She doesn't play the victim. She doesn't play a martyr either. She is just her. Very human. She has helped so, so, so many women at a Muncy. This (award) is something that could show her how what she has done for everyone has had a positive impact on them. I am not good at writing things like this, but to be more specific with how she helped me and why I think she deserves this is I have Borderline personality disorder. I have often made terrible decisions based on emotions. She taught me and was a huge part of me learning mindfulness. It's taken years of practice but thanks to her I have learned how to control my emotions. I work full time now. It's not something I thought I could ever do. She was a huge part of that.

- While I was there over the years Ms. Blount made it her business to put a smile on my face she would stop whatever she was doing just to listen to people vent. She would give all of us young adults good advice and because of her good advice I'm free and doing very well for myself she truly deserves it.

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(Nominated for Inmate of the Year)

Paul has brought many men to understand the importance of education. He has done this by educating himself and by encouraging others to see their own potential and the value of education. I have seen Paul's gentle leadership so many times as he has encouraged men to sign up for my creative writing classes at Graterford. He has helped me to create better classes and offers his valuable insights after the class is over--always kindly describing what went well and what I could change to better the class for the future. He has helped me to become a better teacher and to understand the rules of volunteering in a prison. He is an absolutely amazing man--funny, kind, empathetic, intelligent, and intellectually curious. I wish he was on the faculty at my university.

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Heather Lavelle, Serving the System and Inmates 

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Heather Lavelle, Serving the System and Inmates 

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(Nominated for Inmate of the Year)

From day #1, Heather has displayed a sophisticated understanding of the system. She has been honest without being angry about shortcomings and negative personalities be they staff or fellow inmates. Her focus was on what she can do to help others.  She has served the system and inmates in countless ways, from her work in the law library, explaining rental contracts to those about to exit, and as a facilitator of numerous groups.

She is widely respected by staff and inmates. Few inmates know the law as well as Heather and she has been very helpful with inmates in understanding appeal procedures and challenging the system (and she was able to do this without annoying or generating “punishment” from the staff.  Her university degree is in environmental science and I recall times, from 4 or more years ago, when she would describe the time she spent studying the law to help an inmate.

I would think that a key criteria to being inmate of the year is how one has improved as a person, while incarcerated, (in addition to leadership and work to help others). Maybe three or four years ago she shared how, after months of struggle, she was able to write her apology letter.

In her most recent letter, dated 2-23, she states, “The nun I met with in November as part of my journey to become a Mercy Associate, Sr. Kathleen, runs the Catherine McAuley House in Scranton for homeless women and their children.  I hope someday to be able to go and work with her there, offering mercy to others as I have been so blessed to receive.”

Over the years she has shared how she organized and/or was the key force in a memorial service for a forty year old inmate who died from cancer, a special surprise celebration for the Catholic chaplain for his 20th or 25th anniversary of being ordained, and she made arrangements for some ten fellow Catholic inmates to meet with the Bucknell University student a few days before his graduation from the university and his entrance into seminary training to become a Jesuit priest.

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by Zachary James

For the past year, I've been riding Society buses every other month to see my daughter. These bus rides are such an important service for people who don't have the resources to get to prisons that are far out. When you don't have a lot of money, it's easier to go on the Society bus than pay for tolls and gas and hotel room.

I feel like the Prison Society is investing in me and my family. Knowing that I can get to my daughter safely and affordably,  takes a lot off my mind. I can't say how important and how much comfort providing transportation brings. It has been a blessing for me.

These visits give me a chance to support my daughter and she knows her daddy is coming to visit no matter what. I'll do anything to keep that promise. When we get to see each other face to face I can look in her eyes to see she's alright and that she's walking and breathing--it's important. But I kind of keep my emotions to myself (even though my heart is crying on the inside, but I don't let her see it.)

It's overwhelming for my daughter to be locked up. She had just graduated from school and then her life was turned upside down--its been a roller coaster ride. She's fighting to get back home and visits from her family give her hope that everything is going to be okay.  It's hard leaving though because I know it's going to be a month before I see her again.

Last month my son went with me. He hadn't seen his sister since she was locked up 5 years ago. There were lots of tears. Seeing her again made my son understand the urgency with which she needs our support. Now he's going to make it part his schedule to visit.

Besides being able to see my daughter in person, visits helps me understand the process of the system so I can help my daughter make it through and do what she needs to do to get home.

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by Petra Trader

When I found it, I couldn't believe it. I had been trying to figure out how to get from Delaware to Mercer and was online one day and found the Prison Society bus service. I was so amazed and happy! If the bus wasn't there, I'd be paying close to $200-$300 to get there on my own and I would drive 6 hours for a one hour visit.  It is a privilege to have someone drive for you after work. I appreciate the service, It is a blessing.

If it wasn't for the Prison Society, I guarantee you most of the people on the bus wouldn't be able to see their loved ones-- and they need the support. Can you imagine being in prison and no one comes to see you. It gives them hope and belief they can make it.

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(Nominated for Inmate of the Year)

Kawania Mcintosh has been a model inmate. She has helped so many people while incarcerated. She gives hope, helps you realize and see for yourself the affect that your crime had had on others. She is a positive, motivating, selfless individual who freely helps women in need. She ha personally been an inspiration to me. She has helped me get through loss of family and friends. She continuously shows acts of kindness without even being recognized. I know that she hasn't had a misconduct for over 15 years - not because she's perfect, but because her freedom one day means everything to her.

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Warden Cheryl Steberger, Giving a Voice to the Community 

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Warden Cheryl Steberger, Giving a Voice to the Community 

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(Nominated for Correctional Employee of the Year)

Cheryl has been LCP’s warden since March 2016 and has made significant progress in bringing the community and prison board together by allowing the community to have a voice on how the prison is run. She is also walking and talking throughout the prison, intently listening to both administrative staff and inmates, thus allowing staff and inmates an opportunity to ignite two-way communication and spark necessary change. She is very open to comments about reported inmate issues from the official visitors of PPS who frequent LCP. Prior to her appointment at LCP, the prison had about 3-5 suicides per year and the prison staff and community felt their voices were not heard. Since her appointment, that all has changed for the good, as there have been no suicides. She and prison board chairman Josh Parsons hold regular meetings with the community explaining prison stats, and consequentially receive input from approximately 30 people per meeting. The LCP building is old and obsolete and poses many obstacles for prison rehabilitation. In spite of all that, the prison population has lowered from 1,350 to around 800, which we view as a success in terms of processing people in a timely manner. While the prison is not what it ought to be, the community feels Cheryl is making reasonable progress.