The PA Prisons and Parole Podcast

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Latest Episodes:

Episode 11: Prison Violence (Bill Nicklow) Nov 20, 2024

In this episode we speak with Bill Nicklow, deputy superintendent for facility security and special operations at the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Bill talks with us about the practical side of efforts to reduce prison violence. He also shares highlights of his long and interesting career in the department. Bill provides context to the prison violence report by Dr. Nancy Rodriguez, which we spoke with her about on the last episode.

Episode 10: Prison Violence (Dr. Nancy Rodriguez) Nov 04, 2024

In this episode we speak with Dr. Nancy Rodriguez from the University of California-Irvine about a multi-state project that she and several of her colleagues have been conducting for the past five years to examine the causes and consequences of prison violence. As this project is now coming to a close, Dr. Rodriguez shares with us some of the major findings from the project. She also shares relevant practical implications for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

SCI Spotlight: Frackville and Mahanoy Oct 30, 2024

Our podcast visits Schuylkill County this month as we shine a spotlight on SCI Frackville and SCI Mahanoy. This episode kicks off with Mahanoy Superintendent’s Assistant Jen Mahally sharing about her facility and its various programs, including how the Pennsylvania Correctional Industries warehouse provides job skills that can be invaluable to reentrants after release. Later in the show, Frackville Superintendent Kathy Brittain and Superintendent’s Assistant Beth Lazusky discuss their facility’s programs for inmates, including its laundry program, and their excitement for the upcoming annual graduation ceremony.

Episode 9: A Tribute to Mark Kleiman (Part 2) – SCF Supervision Oct 21, 2024

In this episode we continue to remember the life and legacy of Mark Kleiman. We review perhaps his most important practical contribution to the field, what he called Swift, Certain, and Fair (SCF) Supervision. The principles of SCF Supervision were laid out in in his 2009 book, “When Brute Force Fails.” We discuss various ways that the PA Department of Corrections has implemented the principles of SCF Supervision.

Additional Resources on “When Brute Force Fails” and SCF Supervision:

Episode 8: A Tribute to Mark Kleiman (Part 1) Oct 07, 2024

Mark Kleiman was a special friend to the PA Department of Corrections, partnering with us on many initiatives over the years such as assisting in incorporating the principles of swift, certain, and fair (SCF) supervision into practice, in-prison violence reduction initiatives, and other evaluation and innovation efforts. This special episode is a tribute to the life and legacy of Mark Kleiman. We discuss his personal and professional connections with us, his many efforts to help us improve as an organization over the years, and his broader legacy to the field.

SCI Spotlight: Forest and Mercer Sep 24, 2024

Our year-long tour around the DOC continues as we learn about two rural facilities in western PA: SCI Forest and SCI Mercer. The episode kicks off with SCI Mercer Superintendent’s Assistant Nikki Franz discussing the facility’s history and unique features and programs—including its Veterans Service Unit, which recently became an official American Legion Post. Later in the show, SCI Forest Major Jennifer Alexander shares about the facility’s Vehicle Restoration Plant and other vocational opportunities for inmates, as well as the staff culture and relationship between the facility and community.

Video on the PA Correctional Industries Vehicle Restoration Plant at SCI Forest: https://www.facebook.com/CorrectionsPA/videos/333013635666455

Episode 7: PA DOC Corrections Innovation Day Sep 04, 2024

On July 31, 2024, the PA DOC, along with Penn State University, hosted their first ever Corrections Innovation Day. The event brought PA DOC staff from various levels and types of positions together with a large group of academic partners in order to brainstorm around innovative and testable solutions to some of the department’s most important issues, such as recidivism reduction, in-prison violence reduction, restrictive housing reform, and staff wellness. In the special episode, you’ll hear a report from various participants at this event. A special thanks to Arnold Ventures for sponsoring the event.

SCI Spotlight: Fayette and Muncy Aug 28, 2024

This month, the PA Prisons and Parole Podcast visits one of our most unique facilities and one of our newer facilities in SCI Muncy and SCI Fayette.

SCI Muncy Deputy Superintendent for Centralized Services William Frantz kicks off the episode by discussing how the history of the facility impacts its current layout as well as the main vocational opportunities available to its incarcerated population. Later in the show, SCI Fayette Superintendent Tina Walker joins to discuss the first 20 years of Fayette. She also discusses the PA Correctional License Plate Factory and the reaction among its workers about Pennsylvania’s new plates.

Episode 6: Risk & Needs Assessment, part 2 (Jason Stauffer ) Aug 20, 2024

In the second part of this month’s series, we talk with Jason Stauffer, the PA DOC’s Supervisor of Assessment and Classification Services. Jason talks about his background in corrections and assessment, how the PA DOC uses risk and needs assessment, and specifically how the PA DOC uses their new Strong-R assessment instrument.

Episode 5: Risk & Needs Assessment, part 1 (Dr. Zach Hamilton, Sean Hosman, and Marjorie Rist) Aug 05, 2024

In the first part of this month’s series, we talk with the team at Vant4ge, a company that produces a correctional risk/needs assessment tool called the Strong-R. We discuss what risk/needs assessment is, and also discuss its importance in the corrections field. The Vant4ge team talks about what new developments are happening in the risk/needs assessment industry.

SCI Spotlight: Dallas and Phoenix Jul 31, 2024

As we cross the midpoint in our prison tour around the Commonwealth, we meet with the superintendents of two eastern facilities: SCI Dallas and SCI Phoenix.

Dallas Supt. Jasen Bohinski discusses the unique programs at his facility—including the highly popular horticulture program—as well as the Veterans Service Unit, which was the first in the DOC. Later in the episode, Phoenix Supt. Joseph Terra discusses the challenges of transitioning from SCI Graterford to Phoenix and the lessons learned, as well as the benefits of Phoenix—the newest facility in our system.

Episode 4: Desistance and Recidivism, Part 2 (Dr. Laurel Harry, Secretary of Corrections) Jul 15, 2024

In this follow-up episode, we continue our discussion on the concept of “desistance” with a very special guest: Dr. Laurel Harry, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Sec. Harry talks about her career and about her interest in implementing desistance as a practical framework in the field of corrections.

Episode 3: Desistance and Recidivism, part 1 (Dr. Bret Bucklen) Jul 01, 2024

In this episode we discuss the concept of “desistance,” an idea which has been around for a while in academic criminology but is only now beginning to catch on among corrections practitioners and policy-makers. Dr. Bucklen describes what desistance is, discusses how to define and measure it, and explains its practical use as a complimentary measure to recidivism by correctional agencies.

Resources referenced in this episode:

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ 2022 Recidivism Report

National Institute of Justice (NIJ) report – “Desistance from Crime: Implications for Research, Policy, and Practice”

SCI Spotlight: Coal Township and Pine Grove Jun 26, 2024

SCI Coal Township Supt. Tom McGinley kicks off this episode with a conversation about his facility. Later in the show, two of SCI Pine Grove’s original employees—Lt. Jason Townsend and Administrative Officer Jessica Purcell—join the PA Prisons and Parole Podcast to discuss the first 20 years of the facility, as well as its Young Adult Offender program.

Episode 2: How Research and Statistics Are Used at PA DOC (Mr. Chris Oppman and Dr. Lucas Malishchak) Jun 17, 2024

In this episode we talk with two key leaders at the PA DOC, Deputy Secretary Chris Oppman and Deputy Secretary Lucas Malishchak, about how the areas under their purview within the department use research and statistics to make better decisions.

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