Statement on Elimination of Commissary Fees and Increase Free Communication at Philadelphia Prisons
Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity: Solomon Leach - July 26, 2021 Last month, City Council gave final approval to the FY22 Operating Budget, which includes general fund dollars to the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) to allow PDP to eliminate commissary surcharges for individuals who are incarcerated and increase the amount of free communication from 70 minutes per week to 165 minutes per week, and add video conferencing. The changes took effect earlier t
Philadelphia Reentry Coalition Subcommittee Chairs/Vice-Chairs Announced
The Steering Committee is excited to introduce the Chairs and Vice-Chairs for each of the Philadelphia Reentry Coalition's five Subcommittees – Congratulations! Employment Chair: Sue Hoffman, Philadelphia Works Vice-Chair: Michael Butler, Institute for Community Justice Housing Chair: Laura Schwartz, Regional Housing Legal Services Education Chair: Marcus Hall, Beyond Literacy Vice-Chair: Emma Morrissey, Petey Greene Program Health Chair: Eilene Frierson, Inside Out Program F
Ford Foundation Awards PGP Grant for Prison Education Programs
The Ford Foundation awarded the Petey Greene Program a $100,000 grant in support of our prison education programs. PGP’s mission is to support the educational goals of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people through high-quality volunteer tutoring programs, while educating volunteers on the injustice manifest in our carceral system. Founded in 2008, PGP operates the largest multi-state volunteer tutoring program in jails and prisons, recruiting1,000 tutors annually thro
“The Locks Have Been Severely Compromised”: A Look Inside Philly Prisons
Philly Metro: Jason Peters - July 25, 2021 During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, District Attorney Larry Krasner, alongside state officials, made a strong push to clear out the prison system as much as possible to alleviate potential spread of the deadly virus. Between March and June of 2020, the number of those incarcerated in state prisons declined by 3,471, the largest drop in Pennsylvania’s history in such a short time, according to Gov. Tom Wolf’s office. Now, t
PA Eviction Moratorium Set to End. What Renters, Landlords Need to Know
Pennsylvania State Capital Bureau: Candy Woodall - July 26, 2021 When the federal moratorium on eviction expires this week, hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania residents could lose their homes. Nearly 200,000 renters say they are likely to be evicted in the next two months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey taken June 23 through July 5. That number climbs to almost 600,000 Pennsylvanians who could be without a home when considering that most renters
PHA Hosting Citywide Job Fair and Community Day - August 7th
The Philadelphia Housing Authority is hosting a citywide Job Fair and Community Day from 10a.m. to 2p.m. on August 7 at PHA’s Vaux Community Building, located at 2400 Master Street in Sharswood. Approximately 60 employers and PHA partners are confirmed to participate and many more are expected to attend the fair, which will include activities inside and outside of Vaux. A DJ will be on hand to spin tunes, and there will be food giveaways and child-friendly activities, along w
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Make Renewed Effort to Expand Compassionate Prison Releases
Note: PRC encourages the use of person first language whenever possible in referring to people with justice involvement, and people in general. To learn more, click here. The Morning Call: Lindsay Weber - July 26, 2021 A new push to reform Pennsylvania’s compassionate prisoner release — a system deemed by advocates to be insufficient and inefficient — is expected to occur when lawmakers return to Harrisburg in two months. Democratic Sen. Lisa Boscola of Northampton County and
Child Tax Credit Navigator Training - July 28th
Register Now July 28th: 10:30am - 11:30am EST The 2021 Child Tax Credit provides a historic lifeline to millions of families across the country at a time when they need it most. Your efforts to ensure that families are enrolled are key to making sure that money is not left on the table. While most eligible families will automatically receive the monthly advance payments, others still need to sign-up. The good news is that it's not too late. Navigators are trusted, community-b
How Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Support People in the Justice System - July 29th
Hosted by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance Register Now July 29, 2021, 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm, Eastern Jurisdictions across the country are grappling with developing comprehensive, cross-sector, community-based crisis response systems that address the needs of individuals involved in the criminal justice system who have mental health and/or substance use disorders and provide early intervention and deflection opportunities
Eastern State Penitentiary Spotlight Series: Women, Reentry, and Fair Chance Hiring - August 3rd
Women are the fastest growing demographic group among people who are incarcerated yet are navigating a criminal justice system that does not recognize their unique experiences and needs. Hear from panelists, including fair chance employers, who are at the forefront of creating meaningful reentry opportunities that recognize the individual needs, strengths, and agency of women.