The PA Prisons and Parole Podcast tour around our facilities continues this month as we shine a spotlight on SCI Camp Hill and SCI Rockview. Drug and Alcohol Treatment Manager Bernie Comiskey shares about how Camp Hill serves as our classification center and what inmate family members should know about the process, before Superintendent’s Assistant…

We dive deep into the history of SCI Cambridge Springs with lawyer David Matejcyzk, who shares all about the Alliance College that used to inhabit the grounds of the current prison. Matejcyzk has strong family ties to the school and shares about why the school was formed, what famous alumni and visitors have ties to the school, and even how Cambrid…

Superintendent’s Assistants Christie Schenk of SCI Somerset and Holly Quist of SCI Benner Township join the show to share about their respective facilities and what makes them unique, including the programs, the people — and the massive amount of laundry they both process. Christie also discusses their dog training program, as Somerset is the only …

Throughout 2024, the PA Prisons and Parole Podcast will spotlight our state correctional institutions to highlight the history, culture and programs each has to offer. First up: SCI Waymart and SCI Albion. Deputy Superintendent for Facilities Management Joseph Grillo of Waymart shares about the history of the facility — which was originally Farview…

The best way to keep incarcerated individuals out of trouble? Keep them busy with positive activities. Each facility features an activities department that oversees a variety of functions, including organizing leisure activities, managing the charitable events, supporting the mural programs and overseeing inmate organizations. As we close out 2023,…

Mike Cioppa is a professional magician who now resides at Wernersville CCC. Although he had never heard of Wernersville before, Mike has grown to appreciate the small town and has been making the most of his second chance. Mike joined the PA Prisons and Parole Podcast to talk about his reentry journey so far, including how he’s engaged with his new…

A big challenge for many reentrants after incarceration is finding stable housing — and that’s where Director of Reentry Services Luis Resto and his team come in. In this month’s episode, Resto shares how his team connects reentrants with safe, stable and affordable housing in the community.Oleh The PA Prisons and Parole Podcast

In the spring, Andrea Zittlau of Universität Rostock and Jayne Thompson of Widener University brought a Creative Writing Workshop into six DOC facilities to spur creativity and a love for writing in incarcerated individuals. The spring sessions were such a success, the duo are set to hit the road again in October to bring their workshop to another …

Whether finishing a GED or earning a trade certification, the education of incarcerated individuals is critical as they prepare for a successful reentry. As the new school year begins for students throughout Pennsylvania, SCI Pine Grove Principal Allan Berkhimer discusses the educational programs available in the DOC, as well as some exciting devel…

It’s been more than a year since the STRIVE initiative kicked off in the Scranton area, which brought public and private partners together to streamline providing resources for reentry. Parole Manager Penny Sines and Community Reentry Parole Agent Mary Brotzman discuss what they’ve learned since STRIVE began, share some success stories and explain …

Our innovative, award-winning Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program is a crucial tool for incarcerated individuals dealing with substance abuse disorder. Our guest this month is Statewide MAT Coordinator Steve Seitchik, and in this wide-ranging interview Steve explains what MAT is, its history in the DOC, what the next steps may be, and how t…

Becky MacDicken is an outreach specialist for the PA Department of Banking and Securities who spends many of her days inside our state prisons as she educates incarcerated individuals on the importance of finances. She teaches inmates about a variety of financial topics, including credit, banking, scams, budgeting, investing and so much more, and s…

April is Second Chance Month, and what better way to celebrate than by hosting an individual who has experienced the reentry process first-hand. After being incarcerated at SCI Frackville for 24 years, Kurt Danysh is the founder and executive director of Tomorrow’s Neighbors, a non-profit organization that supports reentrants. In this episode of th…

With Autism Awareness Month approaching in April, the PA Prisons and Parole Podcast welcomed SCI Albion Unit Manager Steven Soliwoda to discuss the Neurodevelopmental Residential Treatment Unit (NRTU), a unit designed for individuals on the autism spectrum. Soliwoda explains how his unit differs from a normal housing unit, why he’s grateful for his…

SCI Cambridge Springs features the Pennsylvania Correctional Industries Optical Lab, a one-of-a-kind program that produces all the eyeglasses in the DOC and for some community partners. In this month’s episode of the podcast, Optical Lab Supervisor Tony Rentz visits to share about his shop, including the certifications and skills his workers earn a…