Pennsylvania Prison Society

Medical copays compromise the health of incarcerated people --five dollars for a medical visit is a barrier for incarcerated people, who depend on their families and meager prison wages for what little money they have. Donate today and help us https://bit.ly/3hHUwvC

📷 Development Director Emily Cheramie-Walz, Western PA Prison Monitor Manager Angela Damiano, and Development consultant Sharon Navoney spent a productive day networking and planning Pittsburgh activities! Get to know the rest of our team: https://bit.ly/3kOZeJO

Navigating life with a loved on facing incarceration can feel unmanageable and overwhelming. We are here as a resource to help you stay connected and answer any questions you may have. Give us a call today at 215-564-4775 or visit us online https://bit.ly/3jdqJMi

Save the date! Join us for our annual LOVE ABOVE BARS event on Wednesday, September 25th, at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia to celebrate over 238 years of profoundly impactful work that has shaped our state and our nation. YOU have helped make our work possible, and we look forward to celebrating with you in September.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now! Learn more: https://bit.ly/4cJYVp8

Budget cuts in prison food spending have resulted in smaller portions, lower-quality protein, and fewer fresh fruits and vegetables. Poor nutrition in prison contributes to increased medical expenses and long-term health problems. Read our recent food report and learn how we are working to https://bit.ly/4dD2nmj

Prison Society volunteer Destiny lives her passion in her regular visits to the Dauphin County jail as a prison monitor – helping incarcerated people and their loved ones resolve issues, everything from relations with corrections officers and cellmates to food quality and medical care. Read her story: https://bit.ly/4erXlcW

❤️ Hearing how our support makes a positive impact motivates us to push even harder. If your loved one is experiencing hardships while incarcerated, contact us so we can advocate for their rights and well-being: https://bit.ly/3jdqJMi

📣 Today's Supporter Update: We are thrilled to welcome Dzemila (jeh-me-la) Bilanovic as the newest member of our Prison Monitoring staff where she will focus on Eastern Pennsylvania. Learn about Dzemila:

Meet Our Newest Staff Member, Dzemila Bilanovic! We are thrilled to welcome Dzemila Bilanovic as the newest member of our Prison Monitoring staff where she will focus on Eastern Pennsylvania.

We conduct regular walkthroughs of the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center (PICC), visiting both the men's and women's sections of the facility. These inspections ensure that operations are running smoothly and that the well-being of the incarcerated population is maintained. Read the reports from our recent walkthroughs: https://bit.ly/3PEyTJj

❤️ We publish our news publication written by and for incarcerated people, Graterfriends, bi-monthly. Graterfriends builds community across people incarcerated - it reaches every state facility in Pennsylvania. Give our most recent publication a read: https://bit.ly/4cXJUAA

Did you know? One of the nation’s first prisons was established at 6th and Walnut in Philadelphia. This historic site marks the beginning of our mission to promote the health, safety, and dignity of people living behind bars. Learn more about our history and reform from one of our partner organizations, Eastern State Penitentiary: https://bit.ly/4elPtJY

People in prison are exactly that: People. They are brothers, uncles, mothers, and neighbors. Maintaining connections during incarceration is crucial for . Support us in breaking down barriers to visiting and bringing PA families together by donating today: https://bit.ly/3hHUwvC

We are thrilled to be among the more than 70 Philadelphia organizations partnering with the Every Voice, Every Vote coalition! With funding support from Lenfest Institute for Journalism, our work will focus on educating disengaged and de facto disenfranchised populations on how city government is structured to address the criminal legal system. Learn more about the coalition and how to get involved: https://bit.ly/4bkGgA8

We’re proud to partner with Eastern State Penitentiary as they continue to shape the conversation about criminal justice with Summer Nights, new for 2024. On Friday and Saturday evenings through July 27, check out Summer Nights to discover the impact of sports, the arts, and recreation in prisons today. Use code PAPS for $3 off of your ticket purchase today! Buy now at www.EasternState.org.

Our office will be closed this week for the Fourth of July holiday, but we're always available online! If you need support or have concerns about an incarcerated loved one, contact us: https://bit.ly/3jdqJMi

📣 Today's Supporter Update: Three years since we started documenting the crisis in Philadelphia jails, conditions are getting worse. Read more about what we found on a recent walkthrough:

Conditions deteriorate in Philadelphia jail Three years since we started documenting the crisis in Philadelphia jails, conditions are getting worse.

The Prison Society is the only organization in Pennsylvania with the legal authority to speak privately with residents of the state's 85 prisons and jails. Prison monitors – a network of 250 trained volunteers – talk one-on-one with incarcerated people experiencing problems and help resolve them. Our volunteers are the backbone of our organization. Learn more and start volunteering today: https://bit.ly/3G6kjab

Medical copays compromise the health of incarcerated people. $3- $20 for a medical visit is a barrier for incarcerated people, who depend on their families and meager prison wages for what little money they have. Get involved & help us https://bit.ly/3G6kjab

Introducing our fantastic summer intern cohort - Tim, Brooklyn, Kayla, and Mia (not pictured)! Our interns come from all over, including Temple University and George Washington University. They've been doing incredible work this semester, responding to nearly 500 inquiries from people incarcerated.

Want to get involved and start making a difference? Apply to our fall 2024 intern cohort today: https://bit.ly/3FL7GjE

⭐ We had a fantastic time supporting Prison Society Board Member Steve Chanenson, a Professor of Law at Villanova University, at a recent event dedicated to drug testing, policy, and enforcement within the criminal justice system. Learn more about upcoming events here: https://bit.ly/3yhplPZ

Our statewide network of volunteers is the backbone of our organization. Dedicated individuals, like Marion, who recently participated in the Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board Meeting, play a crucial role in advancing our mission by supporting our advocacy efforts and directly engaging with incarcerated individuals. If you're passionate about making a difference, learn more about volunteering with us today: https://bit.ly/3G6kjab

The Prison Society was honored to attend the annual event! Since 2009, they've successfully exonerated 30 people, with nine cases won in the last year alone! Learn more about their impactful work:https://bit.ly/3yvM4I4

ICYMI: thank you to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette for your recent editorial! We appreciate the coverage of our recent food report and the action the Department of Corrections is taking towards positive improvements. Read the article:

Editorial: Food poisoning and malnutrition can't be punishments for lawbreaking Inmates in Pennsylvania state prisons are being served food so nutritionally deficient it should be considered its own form of punishment. Withholding...

📣 Today's Supporter Update: Greg began volunteering as a prison monitor in 2010. Over the years he has spent helping people, he has built up many similar relationships. As for the golfer, Greg attends his annual birthday party. “His sister makes the best tacos,” Greg said. Read Greg's story:

The relationships are the reward “Even if I can’t win or do anything,” he said, “these guys will thank me for just showing up and listening. Even if I can’t do anything for them, just that conversation, just that half hour of treating them like a human being, they’ll thank me for it. “That’s my reward.”

We prioritize family and community support, aiming to reduce the isolation caused by incarceration. The Helpline helps keep people connected, leading to safer prison environments and successful reintegration. Your support makes this possible. Donate today and help us continue to be a lifeline for families across Pennsylvania: https://bit.ly/3hHUwvC

📣 Our Education and Advocacy Director, Leigh Owens, recently spoke at a news conference hosted by Rep. Ben Waxman. The event focused on State Correctional Institute Chester's Little Scandinavia Prison Unit. Proud to be part of this important discussion on innovative correctional practices! Learn more about the unit and why it should become permanent: https://bit.ly/3WXShXr

Our Summer Interns attended City Council's hearing on the Overdose Crisis in Black Communities. They also had the opportunity to witness our Prison Monitoring Director, Noah Barth, deliver testimony on the state of Philadelphia Jails. Want to support our work? Make a gift today: https://bit.ly/3hHUwvC

Thank you, Rep. Fleming and Rep. Madsen, for joining our Prison Society staff and volunteers on a recent monthly walkthrough at Dauphin County Prison. Lawmakers regularly accompany us on prison visits, gaining firsthand insight into the conditions that impact their constituents. Explore more about our prison monitoring activities: https://bit.ly/3KOZLpw

Thank you The Philadelphia Inquirer for your article interviewing our Executive Director, Claire Shubik-Richards, speaking on our newly published food report! We appreciate the coverage of our food report and the action the Department of Corrections is taking towards positive improvements. Read the article: https://bit.ly/4bQoKDg

What’s wrong with the way Pennsylvania Department of Corrections feeds its 39,000 inmates? Prison Society has released a report saying the food provided to inmates leaves them hungry and malnourished.

📣 Today's Supporter Update: For as long as anyone can remember, Prison Society staff and volunteers have helped families navigate the challenges of having a loved one in prison or jail. Today, we call that service our Family Helpline. Learn more:

Prison Society Helpline Use Doubles in Two Years For as long as anyone can remember, Prison Society staff and volunteers have helped families navigate the challenges of having a loved one in prison or jail. Today, we call that service our Family Helpline.