The PA Prisons and Parole Podcast

In a special episode of Lockup Lowdown, SCI Somerset Captain Joseph Furman discusses the Sgt. Mark Baserman Scholarship, a memorial fund through the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown in honor of Sgt. Baserman. Learn about what the fund is, what its goals are and what is coming up in the future. Anyone interested in purchasing fundraising … Continue reading "A Look at the Sgt. Mark Baserman Scholarship"

In the second episode of Pracademically Speaking, Bret Bucklen dives into the Governor’s Office of Performance Through Excellence, including what it is, why it was formed and what they are doing to help the commonwealth improve efficiency. Later Bret talks with a parole agent to discover what BetaGov programs look like in the field.

In the second episode of Pracademically Speaking, Bret Bucklen dives into the Governor’s Office of Performance Through Excellence, including what it is, why it was formed and what they are doing to help the commonwealth improve efficiency. Later Bret talks with a parole agent to discover what BetaGov programs look like in the field.

The Pennsylvania DOC knows programming to increase job readiness leads to better inmate outcomes. As part of these efforts, the DOC is spearheading an effort to build a Career Pathways framework that prepares inmates with in-demand skills and connects them to jobs, support services and ongoing education upon release. In this episode, meet Dorenda Hamarlund, … Continue reading "Preparing Inmates for Success: A Look at Career Pathways"

Did you know medication is the gold standard in treating opioid addiction?  It’s no different inside our facilities, and in this episode of Lockup Lowdown, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Statewide Coordinator Steve Seitchik explains. Seitchik introduces what MAT is and how it’s currently used inside DOC facilities, and he outlines where he’d like to see … Continue reading "How Medication Is Treating Substance Use Disorder"

In order to keep drugs out of our facilities, the DOC made sweeping changes to our policies on sending mail and books to inmates. In this episode of Lockup Lowdown, meet Diana Woodside, director of policy, grants and legislative affairs, and Jill Deiley, senior policy analyst, and learn about why we made the changes and … Continue reading "Sending Mail and Books 101"

Introducing a new series of Lockup Lowdown: Pracademically Speaking, a series hosted by Dr. Kristofer “Bret” Bucklen, DOC’s director of planning, research and statistics. Bucklen is also the agency’s lead for BetaGov. In this first episode, meet Angela Hawken, PhD, a professor at NYU and founding director of BetaGov. Later in the episode, Bureau of … Continue reading "Pracademically Speaking: The Basics of BetaGov"

Introducing a new series of Lockup Lowdown: Pracademically Speaking, a series hosted by Dr. Kristofer “Bret” Bucklen, DOC’s director of planning, research and statistics. Bucklen is also the agency’s lead for BetaGov. In this first episode, meet Angela Hawken, PhD, a professor at NYU and founding director of BetaGov. Later in the episode, Bureau of … Continue reading "Pracademically Speaking: The Basics of BetaGov"

Many inmates have the opportunity to learn a skill and work a paying job while serving their sentence in prison thanks to Correctional Industries. In this episode of “Lockup Lowdown,” meet CI Director Khelleh Konteh and Sales and Marketing Manager Tracey McCullough. They explain how CI works, who is eligible, what they make and much … Continue reading "What Is Correctional Industries?"

Communications Director Sue McNaughton sits down with Major William Nicklow and SCI Coal Township Captain George Burns to learn about how drugs get into our facilities—and how we’re stopping them. This conversation took place Nov. 8, 2018. https://docpodcast.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/podcast/PODCAST%20-%20Drug%20Introduction%20Podcast%20-%2011-9-18.mp3

This is a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections podcast where listeners get a real look inside the field of corrections with one of the top DOCs in the nation. This episode of “Bustin’ Walls” features an interview with SCI Mahanoy librarian Jeri Stewart. In this informative episode, Jeri talks about how she became a prison librarian … Continue reading "Bustin’ Walls – Episode 4: Meet Librarian Jeri Stewart – Life at a Prison Library"

In this podcast, listeners hear from Deputy Secretary for Field Services Christian Stephens. We learn about his employment background and also about the upcoming “Safe Return” which is set for May 1 – 3, 2018, in Philadelphia Event:  Safe Return Date:     May 1-3, 2018 Time:    10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day Location:  Enon Tabernacle … Continue reading "“Safe Return” – Philadelphia"

Updating Educational Computers Recorded on October 3, 2017, DOC Bureau of Correction Education Director Terri Fazio talks about how her bureau is working with the DOC’s Bureau of Information Technology to update inmate education computers. https://docpodcast.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/podcast/PODCAST-Fazio-Education%20computer%20upgrade-10-3-2017.mp3

This is a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections podcast where listeners get a real look inside the field of corrections with one of the top DOCs in the nation. This episode of “Bustin’ Walls” features an interview with the DOC’s Career Pathways Program Manager Dorenda Hamarlund and highlights her work to manage implementation of a career … Continue reading "Bustin’ Walls – Episode 3: Meet Dorenda Hamarlund – “Today’s Inmate is Tomorrow’s Neighbor”"

This is a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections podcast where listeners get a real look inside the field of corrections with one of the top DOCs in the nation. This episode of “Bustin’ Walls” features an interview with the DOC’s Statewide Veterans Coordinator Ryan Yoder and highlights his work in which he oversees services provided to … Continue reading "Bustin’ Walls – Episode 2: Meet Ryan Yoder – Striving to be the Voice for Incarcerated Veterans"