2019 Pennsylvania Prison Society Annual Report

We are the unbiased source about what is happening behind Pennsylvania prison walls.

P E N N S Y LVA N I A P R I S O N S O C I E T Y 2019 Annual Report

“Philly jails release scores of inmates without returning their IDs, cash or phones.”

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, AUGUST 2019

“Delco Prison goes without air-conditioning during 100-degree heat waveatures.”

DELCO DAILY TIMES, JULY 2019

“Breakfast is served to Dauphin County prisoners at 3:30 a.m. Lunch follows at 9:30 a.m. And supper is served at 2:30 p.m.”

PENN LIVE PATRIOT NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2019

“For Pennsylvania, 2019 is on track to be the worst year in at least a generation for suicides in state prisons.”

YORK DAILY RECORD, OCTOBER 2019

“I am writing to you because there are things being done to us that is wrong and I need your help.”

Together we are bringing light 2019 was a year of extraordinary gains—bringing light to the inside and the darkness on the inside to light. Your support enabled us to expose institutional cruelties and to step in and stop human suffering. We helped thousands of families stay connected. With our affiliates, we raised awareness and advocated for the end of life sentences and solitary confinement. We

of punishment. We couldn’t have done any of it without you. Thank you for

A N O N Y M O U S I N C A R C E R AT E D I N D I V I D U A L , 2 0 1 9

2019

ANNUAL

standing with us.

REPORT

inspired more people to show love above bars and put an end to the culture

1

Our Mission

PENNSYLVANIA

PRISON

SOCIETY

To advocate for humane prisons and a rational approach to criminal justice.

2

Letter from Executive Director There are times of catalytic change in history. May 1787 was one of those moments.

May 8, 1787, just weeks away from the start of the Constitutional Convention, our nation’s founders established the Pennsylvania Prison Society out of the conviction, that “[t]he obligations of benevolence are not canceled by the follies or crimes of our fellow creatures.”

That moment and their words still inspire us today. But this is a very different catalytic moment.

Mass incarceration is the civil and human rights crisis of our time. In 1980, there were 16,000 Pennsylvanians living in state and county prisons. Today there are 76,000. That’s more than a 5-fold increase.

Mass incarceration has meant that the way we do things as an organization is all out of proportion to the number of people on the inside. And so, we are modernizing and growing. This is a massive endeavor that is only possible thanks to the generosity and commitment of each Society supporter. Much as our founders were revolutionaries, creating a democracy, envisioning a restorative criminal justice system, so are you today.

At our core, the Prison Society is just that, a Society, a group of people who have come together to form a community. A community dedicated to the proposition that all among us are entitled to a life of dignity and caring—regardless of commission of crime, mistakes, or poverty. A community that believes that the criminal justice system should restore hope and the possibility of a life of virtue and happiness, not dash hope and end lives. We are a community dedicated to extending compassion to those living behind prison walls because we know it benefits us all.

I am honored to be connected to so much good—to collectively create so much impact.

And I am excited beyond belief to see all that is still to come.

Executive Director

2019

CLAIRE SHUBIK-RICHARDS

ANNUAL

REPORT

With your support, our moment is now.

3

Samuel Barlow, this year’s Pennsylvania Prison Society “Incarcerated Person of the Year”, was commuted in 2019 after serving 50 years behind bars. He accepted his award at Eastern State Penitentiary where he was the last death-row

PENNSYLVANIA

PRISON

SOCIETY

inmate.

4

“We have the unique ability to know people while they are incarcerated and when they come home.”

— K I R S T I N CO R N N E L L , S OC I A L S E RV I C E S D I R E C TO R

How We Work Your support of the Prison Society helps us make Pennsylvania more just and humane. Together we: Stop the culture of punishment We shine a light on the dark world of prisons to eradicate abuse and inhumane treatment.

Prison Society volunteers provide public witness to what happens behind prison walls. Written into Pennsylvania law, the Society has the unique ability to go into correctional facilities, meet with incarcerated people and provide real-time information on prison conditions. We are vital advocates for humane conditions and for human rights. Every month, more than 250 incarcerated people and their families ask Society volunteers for help with issues they face inside prison.

Care for those impacted by incarceration Hundreds of thousands of people return from prisons to Pennsylvania communities each year. We help make that difficult transition easier by providing critical social supports to people coming home and their families. We keep families together by providing subsidized transportation for loved ones with incarcerated family members hours away from home and by facilitating parenting classes for incarcerated fathers. Our mentoring program provides a stable, continuous connection that bridges life behind bars and life in the community.

Fight for reform, build understanding and awareness Mass incarceration is the civil and human rights challenge of our time. Many Pennsylvanians likely don’t know or care about this crisis, but they should. This ignorance is not necessarily willful, but rather due to limited access to the experiences of those behind prison walls. That’s where the Prison Society makes a difference. We reach people across the state and across the country with our message of justice and compassion for incarcerated individuals and their families through our website, social media platforms, publications, and events for concerned citizens.

ANNUAL

to change them.

2019

incarcerated individuals should be treated. Where our laws are flawed and outrageous, we fight

REPORT

We drive important conversation on prison conditions and frame the debate about how

5

What We Do “The Prison Society has the ability to be the unbiased source of

SERVICES ●

Our responsive staff answers more than 250 calls, emails, and letters every week from incarcerated people and their families seeking help and/or information.

● Our

volunteers monitor prison conditions, providing outside

eyes and ears behind prison walls. They elevate issues to prison

truth. We are

officials, assist incarcerated people with self help, communicate

desperately

social connection to those cut off from family and friends.

needed. And we have so much more we need to do.”

—JOSH ALVAREZ, Prison Monitoring Director

with concerned family members, and provide a much needed

● Our

transportation services keep families on the outside

connected to loved ones on the inside. Every month we send 10 buses across the state with over 2,400 riders annually.

PROGRAMS ● Our

mentors serve as a bridge between life behind bars and life

in the community. They help incarcerated participants prepare for life outside prison walls and provide ongoing support when mentees are reunited with their communities and face all of the new challenges that can bring. ● Our

fatherhood classes help fathers gain the critical skills and

emotional readiness needed to successfully reconnect with their

PENNSYLVANIA

PRISON

SOCIETY

families once they are released.

6

PUBLICATIONS ● Graterfriends

is our publication for and by incarcerated people,

focusing on the issues that they care about. ● Beyond

Bars is a monthly digest of news regarding prison

conditions and gives an inside look at what’s going on at the Society.

Become a member to start receiving Graterfriends and Beyond Bars. Join online at www.prisonsociety.org

Top Victories for 2019 We sounded the alarm on the expansion of life sentences In Partnership with The Sentencing Project, we raised awareness of the expansion of life sentences in America and argued against such extreme punishments. In conjunction with Lifers Incorporated, the organization of people serving life sentences in Pennsylvania, we hosted a panel at the State House on the need for people serving life sentences to be eligible for parole board review.

We played a crucial role in getting the story out about outrageous discharge practices in Philadelphia jails After an investigative report by Pranshu Verma and the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Department of Prisons listened and has now committed to releasing people earlier in the day and with their belongings. Tom Innes, our Board President, was a key player in putting an end to the decades-long practice of the Philadelphia jail releasing people without their belongings.

We made sure lawmakers heard our message loud and clear Alongside allied organizations, we kicked off the legislative session by speaking with legislative leaders and senior staff about key criminal justice issues. We were featured at the first meeting of the bi-partisan caucus on criminal justice reform and testified before the Democratic Policy Committee.

We launched new partnerships that will help us tackle important criminal justice issues together Carnegie Mellon’s Center for Human Rights Sciences and Temple’s Klein College of Media partnered with us to provide research and media support that allows us to clearly and

We doubled our staffing capacity We’ve more than doubled our staff over the past year giving us more bandwidth to serve our community more effectively and to tackle the urgent issue of criminal justice reform.

ANNUAL

can do to ameliorate over-incarceration and inhumane conditions.

2019

the Vera Institute joined forces to help us engage county policy makers about what they

REPORT

powerfully show the impact of mass incarceration on Pennsylvania. Urban Rural Action, and

7

Meet Joan

“I am involved with the Prison Society because it’s the right thing to do. It’s as simple as that.”

G

rowing old in prison involves fighting for

was able to reunite with her family and

health care from a system that is often

lived for almost a full year in the care of her

overtaxed and uncaring, or even worse, life-

children. The impact was profound—not just

threatening.

for Ellen—but for her once estranged family

PENNSYLVANIA

PRISON

SOCIETY

that was brought back together by the

8

Joan Porter is a longtime member of the

experience. As much as it is about the dying

Prison Society Board of Directors and an

individual, compassionate release can also

active volunteer. She is a champion for a

bring great healing to family and community.

compassionate release, the Pennsylvania law that lets terminally ill incarcerated people die

Sadly, many who are terminally ill are unable

at home.

to successfully access the labyrinthine and lengthy compassionate release process.

With the assistance of legal counsel, Joan has

Through the gift of her time and dedication,

repeatedly aided families in navigating this

Joan has helped many elderly incarcerated

cumbersome process. Recently, Joan helped

people with life-threatening conditions

Ellen, an incarcerated woman with terminal

spend their last months and days at home.

cancer. After serving decades in prison, Ellen

Financial Report PROGRAM REVENUE (fatherhood, busses, mentoring)

$629,341

GRANTS

TOTAL REVENUE

$172,150

$957,533 INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS

$83,206 ENDOWMENT INVESTMENTS

$80,495 CORPORATE DONATIONS

$18,184 BEQUESTS

$15,793 OTHER

ANNUAL

—CHRIS COVINGTON, Treasurer

2019

As an organization, we have made great strides over the past few years in terms of financial stability. Our ability to expand our donor network while better utilizing state funding sources creates a bright future for the society and ensures our ability to continue the good work we do.”

REPORT

$13,454

9

Donors The Prison Society accepts every gift with gratitude. We can’t do this without your steadfast support.

With each contribution, you too have been a source of light and love on the dark world of prisons. *Donor listed have given $40 dollars or more.

Stephen Adetumbi

Gloria Ruszkiewicz Brown

John Early

Ellen Greenlee

Rumana Ahmad

Jessica Brown

William Griffin

David Akers

Joseph Bubman

Eastern State Pententiary Historic Site

Kasim Ali

Michael Buckley

America’s Charities

Annette Carter

Anita Andreasen

Lisa Carter

Alan Appel

Robin Casarjian

Nathan Armstead

David Caves

Gert Aron

Centre County Council for Human Services

Rackell Arum Barbara Auerbach Carol Austin

PENNSYLVANIA

PRISON

SOCIETY

Regina Austin

Pablo Cerdera Steven Chanenson

William Babcock

Chatterblast Media

The Baily Family Charitable Fund

Anjum Cheema Robert Cicchinelli

John Bair

Christopher Cimino

Irene Baird

Scott Clarke

Andrew Baker

Brie Coellner

Susan Barbella

Adrianne Cohen

Janis Barksdale

Anita Colon

Natalie Barndt

William Coneghen

Carl Barnett-Mayotte

Mary Conger

The Barra Foundation

Vincent Corrigan

Hon. Camera Bartolotta

Ruth Cosand

Kathy Barton

Kevin Courtright

Christina Bassler

Christopher Covington

Sarah Bastidas

Bonnie Cox

Erica Bates

Lauren Cristella

Peter Baumann

Mary Jo Daley

Troy & Debbie Beam

Dallas Lifers Association

Phyllis Beck

Marion Damick

Joan Behr

Marian Davenport

Kevin Bendesky

David Davis

Peter Benekos

Deep Run Mennonite Church East

Rod Binnion Russell Bishop Nancy Blood Joshua & Marissa Bluestein Michael Blume Alfred Blumstein Krista Boerman Rachel Bomysoad Charles Bradley Daniel Bradley Bright Funds Foundation Bruce Brown

10

Centre Foundation

Caridad Delgado Melissa DePino Karren DeSeve H. William DeWeese Richard Dietrich Sharon Dietrich Dorothea DiGiovanni

Larry Eichel

Your Cause LLC Trustee for Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

Sally & Stewart Eisenberg

Debra Hager Bariki Hall

Brenda Emerick

Virginia Hammond

Janice Etchison

Andrea Harman

Walter & Nancy Everett

Holly Harner

Gordon Everett

Harrisburg Monthly Meeting

Susan Fagnani

Christine Harrity

Dennis Farally

Gladys Hart

James Farmer

Steven Hartz

Randi Faust

Peggy Hartzell

Nan Feyler

Haverford College

Fidelity Charitable Donor-Advised Fund

David Heaton

Ryan Fisher

Jasmine Heiss

Mary Eberly

Erica Freeman Fresh Pond Trust Elizabeth Fuller Richard Gabel John Gallery Ronald Garland Hank Garrett Joan Gauker Evan Gentry & Susan Wenger Brenda George

Dwayne Heckert Julie Heller Benjamin Herman Carl Herman Joseph Herman Julie Herman Tyson Herrold Rebecca Hillyer Larry Holdman Sylvia Horst

Mary Gergen

Lifers Association at SCI Huntingdon

Mark Germine

Drew Hyman

Rosemary Gido

IHOPE at SCI Benner Township

Matt Gingerich

Thomas Innes & Marsha Levick

Anne Glass

Kenneth & Karlyn Ippolito

Zoe Goldberg

Lenora Irwin

Joan & William Goldstein

Robert Jennings

Janet Goldwater

Paul Johnson

Jesse Golinkoff

Victoria Jones Long

Darrell Goodley

Justice & Mercy

Edmundo Grab

Sally Kalin

Elena Grab

Rumal Kaluarachchi

Phyllis Grady

Karlsberg Sakowitz Family Fund

Bernard Granor

Gregory Dober

Marshal & Tamar Granor

Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation

Sheldon Granor Grayfred Gray

Emily Dowdall

David Greenbaum

Paul Droesch

Ruth Greenberg

Harriet Kaylor Earl Kaylor, Jr. Mary Keane H. Mark Keintz Jane Keller

DONORS

Jonathan Rosen

Dana Kelley

David Miller

Lawrence Rosenberg

Justin Miller

Seymour Rosenbloom

Leeann Mills

Priscilla Rosenwald

Molly Mollick

Daniel & Barbara Rottenberg

Moran Family Fund

Carolyn Rudnitsky

Anna Morgan

John Rush

Andrew Mow

Carol Salacka

David Moyer

Salford Mennonite Church

Jolene Kopriva

The Hilda Mullen Donor Advised Fund

David Salinger

William Kovacs

Claire Munley

Vicki Kramer

Jennifer Murphy

Marianne Sawicki

Kurland Family Charitable Fund

Laurence Mutti

Darlene Kvaternik

Malik Neal

Joel Kelly Maryam Khojasteh Deborah Klehr Brian Klinger-Maxwell John Knapich Gregory Knight Susan Knox

Jane LaBonte Norman Lacasse Kenny Lam Janet & Joseph Landis Donna Lane

Jack Nagel Network For Good Lawrence Newberry Kathleen Noonan Northern Trust Charitable Giving Program

Robert and Holly Lankin Family Foundation

Lauren O’Leary

Lebanon Association of Penn Central Conference United Church of Christ

Jonathan Oldt

Nancy Lerner Stephen Levin Alison Lewis Felicia Lewis Carolyn Lidston William Lockard The Longacre Charitable Trust Angus Love Carol Love Chelsea Loveall Connie Mabin Shelley Malarkey Jacob Malikkal Jack Malinowski Joseph Manzi Leroy Mapp James Marshall Michael Marsilio

Marie O`Donnell Oppenheimer Foundation The Oxholm Family Fund Harry Oxman Theodore Passon Sherri Patchen Christine Paul Paypal Charitable Giving Fund Andrew Peifer Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project JoAnne Perri James Petersheim Walter Peterson Carol & Peter Petraitis Peggy Petrillo Joseph Piette Latanya Pigford Simeon Poles

Carolyn Sanford Cara Scharf Gustave Scheerbaum Michelle Schmitt Marilyn Schneider Judith Schwab Mark Schwartz Robert Schwartz Seer Interactive Elaine Selan Elif Sen Stephen Sept Emily Severson Dianna Shade Glenn Shaffer Lynn Sharrar Robert Shively Drs. Paul & Jane Shlueter Claire Shubik-Richards Earl Shutt Jane Siegel Barry Silver Joseph Silverman Nicole Simon Jon Singer Nicole Sloane Orlando Smith James Smith Judith Smitley Sarah Snider Mary Sollenberger

Joan Porter

Leonard Sosnov Nicole Spring

Roger Mast

Nancy R. Posel Irrevocable Trust

Sprocket Foundation

Hannah Matos

Jason Powers

Christina Matthias

Ingrid Prater

St. Peters Evangelical Lutheran Church

Gordon Maule

Barbara Pressman

Sheila Mayne

Joan Pritchard

Carole McCallum

Derecka Purnell

Michael McCaney

David Rapoport

Gayle McGill

John Rauch

Mary Jane McKenna

Matthew Ray

Andrew McKinnon

Jessica Raymond

Amy McLaughlin

Joan Reese

Clairissa McLaurin

SCI Retreat Community Development Organization

Linda & Vernon Martin

Mary McNichol Terence McPherson Nan McVaugh Irene Mehnert

David Richards Leonard Rieser Martina Risech Barbara Rittenhouse

Alexander Stadler State College Friends Meeting State College Presbyterian Church Debra Stavarski Jennifer Stevens

Boris & Andrea Striepen Matt Stroud Catherine Struve Phyllis Subin Summit Presbyterian Church Paul Swanger Virginia Sweeney John Swisher Kat Tarsaswarm Dennis Taylor Phyllis Taylor Paul Thanos Charles Thomas David Thornburgh Paul Titterton Claudia Tramer Dustin Trimm TriumpH Inmate Organization Emma Tuohy Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County Patricia Vento Vim Collaborative Anthony Volpe James Wade Marilyn & Jerome Walsh Thomas Wamser Jennifer Watts Barry Weaver Sara Webster Joanne Weidman Gudrun Weinberg Beth Weinstock Cathy Weiss Donna Welsh Robert Wharton Kathryn Whiteley Lois Whitman Ashley Wick Ronald Wick Nina Wiener Merrily Williams Seth Williams Nancy Wilson Elizabeth Wingfield Michael Winters Catherine Wise James Wise Joanne Wise Darla Yeager Philip Yevics Michael Young

Darlene Stewart

Elizabeth Yount

William K. Stewart Sr. Foundation

Anthony Zalesky Heidi Zapotocky

Stan Stojkovic

Roger Zepernick

John Stolzfus

Derek Zimmerman

Cheryl Stormes

S. Milton Zimmerman

Charles Strickler, Jr

Chris Zweifel

REPORT

Carlos Rodriguez

James Midkiff

ANNUAL

Stanley Merves

Estate of Frances P. Kellogg

2019

Kerby Keller

11

We care because incarceration affects us all...

“Half of all American adults have an immediate family member who has served time in prison or jail.*” Today, one percent of Pennsylvania’s adult population lives behind bars.

I care because … I want to be part of the solution that heals a broken system.

I care because … Prison and criminal justice reform is the most important human rights issue of our time.

I care because … Our system is shattered, broken, and barbaric. Instead of giving people mercy and reflection, our prisons often encourage people to become more callous, more hardened, more dangerous. It frightens me.

I care because ... People don’t stop being people just because they are in jail.

I care because … The power to see people beyond their paths is a gift. To see the possibilities and potential of people, and to help their get there, is truly important.

PENNSYLVANIA

PRISON

SOCIETY

I care because … Our impact is measurable. Tangibly the lives of inmates and their

12

families are better because of us.

If you care, too, please show your support with a donation https://pps.kindful.com/ or reurn the enclosed envelope.

*FWD.us. (2018) Every Second: The Impact of the Incarceration Crisis on American Families. Retrieved from https://everysecond.fwd.us/downloads/EverySecond.fwd.us.pdf

Staff & Leadership The Prison Society Staff.

Thomas J. Innes III, Esq.

E X E C U T I V E DIR E C TO R

PRESID EN T

cshubik@prisonsociety.org Joshua Alvarez PR I S O N MO N I TO R I N G

Attorney, Defender Association of Philadelphia David Davis

DIR E C TO R

VICE PRESIDENT

jalvarez@prisonsociety.org

Managing Director, Accenture

Kirstin Cornnell

Chris Covington, CFA

S OC I A L S E RV I C E S D IRECTOR

T REASURER

kcornnell@prisonsociety.org

Principal, HighVista Strategies

John Hargreaves

Carol Petraitis

VO LU N T E E R D I R E CTOR

jhargreaves@prisonsociety.org Jennifer Sozio F IN A N C E & O P E R AT IO N S DIR E C TO R

jsozio@prisonsociety.org Joseph Robinson M ENTO R I N G AS S OCIAT E

jrobinson@prisonsociety.org Shana Joseph CO MMU NI CAT I O NS & DE V E LO P ME NT ASS OC I AT E

SECRETA RY

Former Director of the Clara Bell Duvall Reproductive Freedom Project of the ACLU of Pennsylvania Hon. Camera Bartolatta

Pennsylvania State Senator, 46th District Steve Chanenson

Professor, Villanova Law School Robert A. Cicchinelli

Independent Contractor, Electrical Technology

sjoseph@prisonsociety.org

H. William DeWeese

Lobbyist and Political Consultant Rebecca Hillyer

Partner, Morgan Lewis Malik Neal

Director, Philadelphia Bail Fund Simeon Poles

Law Clerk to the Honorable Gerald McHugh Joan Porter

Official Visitor, Prison Society Matthew Ray

Co-Founder and Creative Director, ChatterBlast Media ​David Thornburgh

President and CEO, Committee of Seventy ​Jerome Walsh

Former Superintendent, SCI Dallas S.A. Williams

Senior Managing Consultant, Public Financial Management

Noelle Gambale AD MI NI S T R AT I V E & CUSTOMER S E RV I C E AS S OC I AT E

customerservice@prisonsociety. org Sheila Dale RE C E P T I O NI S T A N D FELLOW,

“Tom’s leadership on the board has been invaluable.

He brings his own personal commitment to the cause combined with his unique leadership style. He continues to be an inspiration for the board.”

—DAVID DAVIS, Board Vice President

REPORT

Claire Shubik-Richards

ANNUAL

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2019

STAFF

M AYO R ’ S CO MMI S SIO N ON AGI N G

13

230 S. Broad Street Suite 605 Philadelphia, PA 19102

WWW. PR I S ONSO C IE TY.O RG

@PrisonSociety

/PrisonSociety