April 2012 Graterfriends

Graterfriends ― A Publication of The Pennsylvania Prison Society ― April 2012

A Publication of The Pennsylvania Prison Society
Promoting a humane, just and constructive correctional system and a rational approach to criminal justice since 1787

Volume 43 Issue 4 April 2012

www.prisonsociety.org  www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaPrisonSociety

Not in My Footsteps
by Lee A. Horton, CN-2067, SCI Mahanoy

“Happy are the sons whom fathers educate. There is Thus, it is all up to us to teach them that it would be a
not error in their being’s plan.” (Ptaah Hotep, c. 2340 grave error to put on our old shoes. Tell them the truth
B.C.). This missive is written to all incarcerated men and — that those shoes are too small, will only cause pain in
women concerning our responsibility to our families. Too the long run, and will not last the distance of a lifetime.
many of our family members are following in our foot- Warn them not to travel the roads we once travelled.
steps to prison. This trend is destroying our families and Tell them that those roads start out wide but soon nar-
our communities. Increasingly, parents are finding them- row; that at first they seem easy to navigate but quickly
selves doing time with their children, older siblings with turn rocky; that they appear as shortcuts but are really
younger siblings, and uncles and aunts with nieces and paths to nowhere. Let them know that the longer a per-
nephews. This is not acceptable. son walks those roads the farther they lead them away
from their best future, ultimately leaving them strand-
To quote Jesse Jackson, “Every generation needs the ed, wandering the barren wasteland of lost opportuni-
instruction and insights of past generations in order to ties without a compass to help find their way back.
forge its own vision.” Just because we are in prison does
not remove our familial obligations. Our families need People, we must fulfill our obligations to our families
our instruction and insight to help them see where they today. If we do so, limitless futures will be hatched for
are going, regardless of our prisoner status. them tomorrow instead of caged futures. It is time for us
to act now, our inaction is not a viable option. We may
Zora Neal Hurston once wrote: “[T]he present was an not be able to help those who are here with us already,
egg laid by the past that had the future inside its shell.” but we can help the ones standing at the cross-roads
For us, this means that our past actions are the dysfunc- trying to figure out which way to go. Our mantra to
tional parents of our loved ones’ present day bad deci- them must be, “NOT IN MY FOOTSTEPS.”
sions. Even as prisoners, we have family members who
look up to us. Our sons and daughters idolize us, our
younger siblings revere us, and our nephews and nieces
admire us. They want to be who we once were — or who
they believe we were. As such, we have a profound influ- In this Issue
ence over them and they will listen to us.
From the Editors, News ................................................. 2
Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to tell them the Spotlight ......................................................................... 3
truth about the streets, the court system, and prison in
Mrs. GE-6309 Time, Birthdays, Crossword Solutions.. 4
order to lead them in the right direction toward the high
roads and away from the low ones. It is our duty to de- Legislative Highlights .................................................... 5
stroy their unrealistic vision of life, where they believe Report on Smoking, Think About It .............................. 6
hustling is a career choice and it is OK to rob, steal and Legal Chat ...................................................................... 7
cheat to get by, and that it is acceptable to go to prison.
Mailroom..................................................................... 7-9
We should engage them with the wisdom we have Our Voices .................................................................... 10
learned from our experiences. Whether during visits, Pass the Word .............................................................. 11
over the phone, or in letters, our goal should be to say Announcements, Literary Corner................................ 13
whatever we can to prevent them from following in our
Graterfriends Order Form, Save the Date .................. 14
footsteps. I don’t care who you are — innocent, guilty or
unrepentant — we should all want a positive prison-free Crossword ..................................................................... 15
future for our family members. “The Last Word” by William DiMascio........................ 16

1
The opinions expressed are of the authors and not necessarily those of Graterfriends or The Pennsylvania Prison Society.


From
the Editors News
Mr. Lee A. Horton’s front page article could not have by Cory Clark, Occupy Philly Media
come at a better time. We recently presented the report
on children of incarcerated parents to the Pennsylvania On February 20, the Occupy movement as a whole held
Senate and it has been getting a lot of attention in the a national day of action for the reduction of prison popu-
press. At the presentation, Rev. Dr. Wilson Goode stated, lations and improvement in prison conditions in the
“I saw in that prison a grandfather, a father, and a United States. Occupy Philly, members of The Pennsyl-
grandson -- all in the same prison, at the same time. And vania Prison Society, Decarcerate PA, and community
they met for the first time in prison. As I was leaving, activists from around Philadelphia gathered at 1717
the grandson pulled me aside and asked, ‘Dr. Goode, I Arch Street to protest Hill International Ltd., a company
have a son that I've never seen. Do you think I will see heading the expansion of SCI Graterford.
him for the first time in prison, too?’”
Protesters held signs saying, “No More Prisons!” and
In response to the several letters we’ve received over the similar thoughts. There were several speeches about
past months regarding smoking in Pennsylvania’s prisons, the current statistics regarding incarceration in Penn-
Editorial Assistant Danielle Collins has written a report sylvania, and others that related conditions in the
(page 6) about our state’s policies, the smoking policies of prison system.
other states, and their effect on the prison population.
“Inmates have nothing to do but work at slave wages,
watch TV, drink coffee, and go to programs that don’t
Editorial Assistant Bridget Fifer has written an article
work and often repeat each other. There’s no real educa-
(page 3) about mandatory minimum sentencing, why
tion in prisons — no way to build yourself up — after
some consider it unconstitutional and why it doesn’t
they’ve torn you down,” said Assad Jackson, a former
work. She has also included a timeline featuring im-
offender who is now an activist in his community.
portant dates in the history of mandatory minimum sen-
tencing in the United States. It’s been said that if you don’t have a strong commitment
to education, then you need to have a strong commitment
Finally, don’t miss our information in the Legislative to incarceration. Pennsylvania’s government has under-
Highlights section (page 5) about the recently passed
Voter ID Bill, now Act 18. It will be important infor-
mation for you when you are released and wish to vote. (See Occupy Philly, continued on page 12)

Letters more than a page in length (200 words) will not be
published in their entirety in Mailroom or Legal Chat Room,
and may be considered for another column. All columns should
be no more than 500 words, or two double-spaced pages.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: William M. DiMascio To protect Graterfriends from copyright infringement, please
MANAGING EDITOR: Mindy Bogue attach a letter stating, or note on your submission, that you are
the original author of the work submitted for publication; date
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Danielle Collins, Bridget Fifer and sign the declaration.
FOUNDER: Joan Gauker If you have a question about Graterfriends, please contact
Mindy Bogue, Communications Manager, at 215-564-6005, ext.
112 or mbogue@prisonsociety.org.
Graterfriends is a monthly publication from the Pennsylvania
Prison Society. The organization was founded in 1787 and
works toward enhancing public safety by providing initiatives
that promote a just and humane criminal justice system.
This issue is made possible through contributions from our
readers and funding from Phoebus Criminal Justice Initiative
through the Bread & Roses Community Fund. 245 North Broad Street · Suite 300
We reserve the right to edit submissions. Original submissions Philadelphia, PA 19107
will not be returned. We will not print anonymous letters. Telephone: 215.564.6005 · Fax: 215.564.7926
Allegations of misconduct must be documented and statistics www.prisonsociety.org
should be supported by sources. www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaPrisonSociety

2


it” (FAMM: Families Against Mandatory Minimums),
has resulted in large numbers of low-level offenders fac-
ing long sentences. In addition to threatening checks and

Spotlight balances and doing little to attack the drug trade while
increasing the prison population, mandatory minimum
sentencing also poses problems for the judicial system in
many other ways. Minimum sentencing laws make it
difficult for individuals with drug abuse histories to re-
cover, and make it impossible for a judge to treat each
WHY MANDATORY MINIMUMS DON’T WORK case circumstantially. This results in about 60 percent of
by Bridget Fifer, Graterfriends Editorial Asssistant the prison population being locked up on drug charges.

The United States government is structured in a three- It’s estimated that 1.4 million people in the United
branch system with checks and balances in place to ensure States prison system have serious drug and alcohol
that no one branch becomes more powerful than the oth- abuse issues. Mandatory minimum sentencing strongly
ers. In school, children are taught about how these checks affects first-time offenders. Often, this sentence is the
and balances work, but nobody mentions areas in which first time in a person’s battle with drugs that he or she is
they are threatened. One way the checks and balances faced with ceasing use. Being locked up makes it almost
between the Judicial and Executive branches are being impossible for these individuals to seek and receive the
threatened is the concept of mandatory minimum sentenc- treatment they need to recover.
ing. The timeline below illustrates a background of key
movements in the progression of mandatory minimums, Not only does mandatory minimum sentencing strongly
which are essentially in place to attack the drug trade. contribute more to punishment instead of rehabilitation,
which the American prison system seems to value, it also
What seems like an effective way to “catch those at the
top of the drug trade and deter others from entering (See Mandatory Minimums, continued on page 15)

AN OVERVIEW OF IMPORTANT CHANGES MADE TO MANDATORY SENTENCING

1970s
1990s
-New York implements mandatory sentences -Increase in opposition campaigns
for some drug offenses
(Rockefeller Drug Laws) -Arizona promotes treatment for first- and second-time
drug offenders as alternative to prison (Proposition 200)
-Michigan implements a minimum sentencing
for possession of over 650 grams of cocaine -Michigan 650 Lifer Law repealed
or heroin (Michigan 650 Lifer Law) -Increase in minimum sentences for gun offenses

-U.S. Supreme Court rules that federal -Drug sentence “cap” lowers sentence for low-
sentencing laws do not violate separation level drug offenders
of power (Mistretta v. U.S.) -Constitutionality of mandatory sentencing
reiterated (Harris v. U.S.)
1980s
-It is declared unconstitutional to increase sentences
based on evidence not admitted or proven as fact by
a jury. Decision affects mandatory minimum laws in
13 states (Blakely v. Washington)

2000s

3


Mrs. GE-6309
Time
DEATH ROW
by Reesy Floyd-Thompson
April Birthdays

HOW TO BE A PRISONER’S WIFE Herbert Blakeney Michael Pruitt
FB-5713, GRN GF-1448. GRN
Keeping a marriage together with an incarcerated spouse Edwin R. Romero,
Scott Blystone
is hard. Relationships of this kind tend to have a high fail- CZ-3206, GRN
AP-9152, GRN
ure rate. I am determined not to let his incarceration be-
come a death sentence for our relationship. Here’s how: Michael Brandon Singley
Richard Boxley
EP-2753, GRN
EL-5206, GRA
Don’t live in shame: People in love with prisoners are
Brian Thomas
crazy — at least, that’s what the world believes. It is not my Terry Ray Chamberlain AY-7427, GRN
job to make others feel ‘OK’ with the choices I make. What CL-6265, GRN
others think of me and my decision to stay with my husband Stephen E. Treiber
is not my business. I will not hang my head in shame. Michael Conforti FD-8026, GRN
BQ-0537, GRN
Have a support system: I’m still adjusting to this, James W. VanDivner
almost nine years in. I surround myself with a strong Jermont Cox GY-6354, GRN
support system. That goes a long away to keeping me CE-8242, GRA Ernest Wholaver, Jr.
sane. I’m not afraid to ask for help. There are days when FY-3325, GRN
I feel like I can’t carry on. In fact, I schedule at least two Jose DeJesus
emotional breakdowns a month. But, my support system DS-0256, GRN Craig Williams
loves and helps me. BX-9919, GRN
Robert Anthony Flor
Budget and plan: Loving an incarcerated spouse is GW-0422, GRN
expensive. Bills such as postage costs, calls, visitation, GRA = SCI Graterford
packages, and books add up quickly. I figure my normal Randy Todd Haag PO Box 244
monthly budget, then factor in prison expenses AK-7856, GRN Graterford, PA
(distinguishing wants from needs), and plan, plan, plan. 19426-0244
The number one reason for divorce in free-world couples is Kevin J. Marinelli
CT-9974, GRN GRN = SCI Greene
money. Money concerns are an added stress we don’t need.
175 Progress Drive
Keep love alive: One of the biggest challenges as a Kenneth Miller Waynesburg, PA
prisoner’s wife is staying in love. Communication is the EC-6130, GRN 15370-8090
foundation of any relationship. It does the relationship a
disservice to downplay my true thoughts. Letters and If you do not want your name published, send a letter to
Graterfriends each year you do not want it to be included.
calls are dates; I savor them. Each word and action is an
Be sure to note your date of birth.
offering of the heart. Being a prisoner’s wife taught me
the art of courtship. Love is mental. Love is a commit-
ment. I’m committed to having a boundless love, in spite
of the boundaries. CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS
Our relationship is under new management and re- Below are the solutions to crossword puzzles printed in this
quires us to think outside the system. The only institu- issue and the previous issue of Graterfriends.
tion that matters is our marriage. I expect to be in a rela-
tionship, not a “prison relationship.” Living life as if the March 2012 April 2012
prison doesn’t matter is the only way to ensure we do not
face life without the possibility of a strong, healthy, last-
ing relationship.

Reesy Floyd-Thompson is the founder of Prisoners’
Wives, Girlfriends, & Partners (PWGP). For more infor-
mation about this group, please write Reesy at:
PWGP
P. O. Box 14241
Norfolk, VA 23518

4


Legislative Highlights
Ann Schwartzman
Policy Director, The Pennsylvania Prison Society

The Pennsylvania General Assembly has been holding Appropriations Hearings to discuss budget items. They
have also voted on several criminal justice bills in which you may be interested. This information is current as of
March 15, 2012.

BILL NO. DESCRIPTION CHIEF SPONSOR PPS POSITION
PRINTER NO.

HB 934 Requires everyone to show picture ID before they are Rep. Daryl Oppose
PN 3166 allowed into a voting booth. This bill may impact indi- Metcalf
viduals without driver’s licenses, including senior citi- R-Butler County
zens, people who use public transportation, young peo-
ACT 18
ple, and individuals just released from prison.
(Passed House 6/23/11; passed Senate 3/7/12;
Governor signed as Act 18, 3/14/12)

HB 1352 Rep. T. Stephens Oppose
Amends the Public School Code of 1949 by further
PN 2227 R-Montgomery
providing for background checks of prospective employ-
County
ees and the conviction of employees of certain offenses;
ACT 24
collection of identifying information of students attend-
ing institutions of higher education, and more. (Passed
House and Senate 6/30/11; Governor signed as Act
24, 6/30/11)

SB 1428 Rep. Kitchen Support
Amends Title 18 (Crime and Offenses) of the Pennsylva-
PN 1966 D-Philadelphia
nia Consolidated Statutes, further providing for crimi-
County
nal history record information and expungement of non-
violent offenses after maintaining a clean record for five
years. (Referred to Judiciary 2/16/12)

UPDATE ON THE VOTER ID BILL (HB 934)
The Voter ID Bill (HB 934) has passed both the Pennsylvania House and Senate. Governor Cor-
bett signed HB 934 into law as Act 18 of 2012 on March 14, flanked by Secretary of State Carol
Aichele and Representative Daryl Metcalfe, the sponsor of the bill.
This bill was opposed by a coalition of organizations led by Pennsylvania Voice, AARP, and the
County Commissioners Association. Our concern is that thousands of Pennsylvania citizens will
be deprived of their right to vote.
Moving forward, lawsuits challenging Pennsylvania's Voter ID Law in an effort to block its im-
plementation and have it overturned are expected shortly. We are seeing the same scenario in
several other states that also passed similar legislation. You will hear more about these legal
challenges in the future.
Now, we need to educate the public about the new requirements for voting and work to ensure
that every voter in Pennsylvania gets the documentation he or she will need in order to vote in
the November and future elections. Groups are already coming together at the local, regional, and
statewide levels to help make this happen, and we will all need to be a part of these efforts.
5


REPORT ON SMOKING
IN PRISONS
Think
by Danielle Collins
Graterfriends Editorial Assistant
About It
Editorial note: Due to the recent debate we’ve seen regard- “UPDATING THE STATISTICS”
ing smoking in Pennsylvania’s prisons, we have researched
by Paul Schlueter III, AY-8900, SCI Dallas
the issue and printed this report for your information.
Between 70 and 85 percent of prisoners smoke, com-
pared to 20 percent of the American public. Smoking and In a New York Times opinion piece dated January 10,
tobacco use have long been considered an inherent part 2012, A. Blumstein and K. Nakamura report that New
of prison culture, but in the early 1990s, many states York reviewed the cases of 88,000 people, all first con-
began to restrict smoking and tobacco use in prisons due victed in 1980, for subsequent recidivism. About 30 per-
to concerns over healthcare costs for inmates. In 1993, cent of the first offenders never reoffended. Of the rest,
the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the incarcerated have the likelihood of individuals reoffending dropped to about
a right to breathe clean, smoke-free air and that forcing what is expected of someone with no criminal record
non-smoking inmates to live in smoke-filled prisons con- (“redemption time”), about 10 to 13 years.
stitutes a form of cruel and unusual punishment prohib-
ited by the Eighth Amendment. Their point is that people should be protected from dis-
Currently, 46 out of the 50 states have indoor smoking crimination in jobs, housing, and licensing for five years
bans, while 14 of those states ban tobacco products and after a misdemeanor and 10 years after a felony. After
smoking on all prison grounds. These represent the most that, criminal records should be sealed from public access.
restrictive policies for tobacco use in state prisons, and
many more states seem to be following suit. Only four In the Justice column of The Atlantic (Jan./Feb. 2010),
states do not restrict tobacco or smoking in state prisons: “Misfortune Teller,” Nadya Lahi writes about University
Alabama, Missouri, North Dakota, and Mississippi. In of Pennsylvania professor Richard Berk, who has come
Missouri, Senator Jim Lembke has proposed legislation up with a statistical algorithm for determining the risk
to completely ban tobacco in all state prisons. of recidivism of prior offenders. He finds that the earlier
When enacting an indoor/outdoor tobacco and smoking the first offense, and the later the most recent offense,
ban, state prison officials typically announce the policy the more likely a person is to reoffend. Also, he finds that
anywhere from six months to a year in advance. This gives the severity of a crime previously committed DOES NOT
inmates and staff the chance to adjust without going “cold predict whether the offender will commit a violent crime
turkey,” and to access smoking cessation support. When in the future; this suggests that the distinction between
the Federal Bureau of Prisons went smoke- and tobacco- violent and non-violent offenders in parole decisions
free in 2004, inmates and guards were offered smoking- should be re-evaluated. In fact, Berk set up a similar
cessation programs, as well as nicotine patches. The algorithm system for Philadelphia in 2006, and has been
patches were free to guards, but inmates were required to “working with” the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and
pay for theirs. Often the cost of nicotine patches is prohibi- Parole for about two years. Berk claims his system is like
tive, making the transition even harder for prisoners. a Ferrari compared to the LSI-R survey, a 54-question
survey now used by Pennsylvania and many other states
Florida implemented a statewide prison tobacco ban in to evaluate risk, which Berk compares to a Ford Focus.
September 2011, and made nicotine patches available to However, critics worry that Berk’s algorithm still relies
inmates for $34.99. Six months before enforcing the 2011 too heavily on prior record scores, which unfairly bias
tobacco ban, prisoners and staff were informed that they results against African-American offenders, simply be-
were going to gradually implement the new policy. Until cause they are over-represented among the sampling.
the ban took effect, inmates were permitted to smoke dur-
ing recreation time in designated areas to steadily wean
themselves off of tobacco. Employees are currently permit- It is too soon to tell for sure whether Berk’s algorithm is
ted to smoke in designated areas off prison grounds. a good thing or a bad one, and who will benefit the most.
Pennsylvania officials are likely to be reluctant to consid-
In implementing a successful tobacco ban, the Virginia er letting currently-unparolable lifers to benefit at all.
Department of Corrections also took a gradual approach.
Inmates and staff were informed a year in advance and
had access to smoking cessation and nicotine replace- One thing is certain; real science requires not only peer
ment therapy programs. In a February 6, 2012 email, review, but also replication of results through independent
Director of Communications Larry Traylor shared some follow-up studies. Until these safeguards have been ap-
plied, we should be wary about grand conclusions or policy
(See Smoking, continued on page 12) decisions which may be based on premature findings.

6


Legal Chat Mailroom

NEED HELP WITH PRISON PROGRAM PRISONERS FORCED TO MOVE TO VA. HAVE
NO JOBS AFTER RETURNING TO PA.
I’m writing to ask for help. I’ve been in the therapeutic
community for eight months and was discharged for lack As of late, lifer inmates who were previously working
of participation and not using house tools. I believe that in the Correctional Industries Shops at SCI Graterford
this is not true and I don’t know what to do. Is there any- have been returning from Virginia. These inmates were
thing I can do to be reinstated? I cannot say anything to transferred unwillingly to the care of the Virginia DOC
change the minds of the staff or prison. I want to know if and were informed that upon their return, as long as
anybody else is having the same problem, or has any they had not been cited for misconducts while temporari-
advice. Now I might not be able to finish my carpentry ly in Virginia, they would be getting their jobs back. So
class because of being discharged from the program. I far, that has not been the case.
also have a problem with group speaking and they don’t
look at this problem. Any help is appreciated. They have now been told that lifer inmates WILL NOT
be given their old jobs back in the Correctional Indus-
Terry Graham tries Shops that they had been removed from as a result
JG-2267, SCI-Fayette of being unwillingly transferred and taken to Virginia.
Not only are they losing their former jobs, but they are
more or less being punished unfairly.

CELL EXTRACTIONS And not to pick on the non-lifers that were also relocat-
ed, but the returning non-lifers ARE getting their previ-
ous jobs back with Correctional Industries, as long as
On January 25, 26, and 27 of 2012, SCI Albion per- they did not engage in any type of misconduct in Virginia.
formed approximately 30 cell extractions. What triggered
these was a corrections officer (CO) slighting a man who I find this situation totally unfair and I hope that this
has a great many friends. The CO in question has a loss of job is corrected and rectified for the good of those
shady past at another facility, and was reportedly trans- who did not deserve to lose their jobs and were informed
ferred here for a fresh start. For some reason, the CO initially that they would not.
said the man threw an RHU shoe at him during a strip James R. Cruz
search for a trip to the law library. This was false; no CL-1798, SCI-Graterford
such assault took place. In fact, the man was only two
days away from completing his solitary confinement
time, plus he had no motive to attack.
RE: “HEY, WHAT ABOUT US?”
As further punishment, each extractee was placed in
the restraint chair for at least four hours in a suicide Back in August 2011 (Our Voices column), I wrote a
smock. One man has endured some ten days in the chair. letter entitled, “Hey, What About Us?” The article was
The staff put this chair in the main RHU hallway, like a for long-term incarcerated men — men looking for help
trophy of their hard work. Once time is up, the still- and programs that will provide them with assistance.
smocked man is placed in a cold Albion cell with no blan- Upon further digging for answers, I found that I could
ket, mattress, pillow, or even toilet paper or soap. SCI contact the Bureau of Treatment Services in Harrisburg
Albion RHU would have less than half the problems and and answers could be found there.
grievances it does if the on-site administration, superin-
tendent, and deputies would make rounds as done in Finally, I received a reply from Keith Fenstemaker,
other facilities. If the superintendent and/or one deputy Treatment Programs Specialist, Bureau of Treatment
superintendent would make weekly rounds, many issues Services. He wrote:
would be resolved. “The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections is cur-
rently piloting a long-term offenders program at several
In closing, the unity I witnessed shocked me, as every-
of our facilities across the state. After the pilot program
one is normally out for themselves only. I urge all read-
is complete, there will be a determination if the program
ers of this story to please cut it out and ask family mem-
will be offered on a larger scale. We are optimistic the
bers to send it to the governor and the media. Together
program will do well and are anticipating that it will be
we can right all these wrongs.
made available to more facilities.”
Darren Gentilquore
GX-1572, SCI Albion (See Mailroom, continued on page 8)

7


I’m asking that if anybody knows of this pilot program sion. I crashed and burned after several telephonic hear-
at their facility, please let it be known and explain exact- ings before Judge Ember S. Jandebuer. Although sympa-
ly what the inner-workings of this program are. thetic to our cause, she dismissed the case for not stating
a claim, all of which I reported here in Graterfriends.
Kevin Coleman
AJ-2978, SCI Fayette I then followed this attempt up with dozens of letters to
everyone I could think of. Two things are noteworthy of
the effort. First, John Shaffer, Ph.D, in the Office of Ad-
MY RESPONSE TO SMOKING ISSUE ministration within the DOC, gave me a breakdown on
the funds collected for the use of the phones. In a letter
There must be a compromise. If you don’t like to smell that I have to this day, he said “eight million dollars”
smoke on someone, or smoking period, don’t cell up with were collected. Of that, the Inmates General Welfare
someone who smokes. If the person is smoking outside, Fund received “three million” and the remaining “five
come on! It is the only place we can smoke without get- million” was put into the State General Fund. Who else
ting a write up. has a problem with this?

Smokers and non-smokers have rights. Smokers have Second, I used the Freedom of Information Act to get
the right or privilege to smoke, and non-smokers have what I could about the Inmates General Welfare Fund
the right to clean air inside. However outdoors is a public and its charter with the DOC and State. Guess what I
area. I haven’t heard any bans on smoking outdoors ex- found? The people that handle these funds cannot be
cept at bars and restaurants. People smoke to enjoy it, audited by State auditors, only in-house audit staff!
relieve stress, or because they are ADDICTED. As pris- What a racket that supports John’s words!
oners we have no right to tell other prisoners what to do.
There are many other issues more important than What I’d like is information on what has happened to
fighting about smoking. HR 4466, known as “The Family Telephone Connection
Protection Act of 2005.” During our fight, it was stuck in
Indoors, technically, our cells are our homes. We sleep the Committee on Energy and Commerce. I fear that, as
there, sometimes eat there, and go to the bathroom always, something worthy fell between the cracks and
there. If you are complaining about the ventilation sys- these monies were put in the hands of those who don’t
tem, allow smokers the ability to buy filters to place on deserve it. It’s our money that could go to much needed
the vents. Besides, the air we breathe in the cells is not education. I ask anyone with information concerning this
100 percent pure, either. Allow smokers to buy ashtrays subject to please contact me. I really appreciate it.
which eat smoke (which they do make), or air purifiers.
Jeffery Neal Saxberg
I understand that smoking in government buildings is
DX-5126
against the law, but also where you sleep or live is your
P.O. Box 200
home. Would you want someone telling you what to do in
Camp Hill, PA 17002-0200
your own home?
Brothers and sisters, prison life is hard enough without Editorial Note: Research done by the Pennsylvania Pris-
fighting each other over minor issues, like smoking. What on Society has led us to believe that the last action re-
about parole, over-crowding, prison wages, commissary garding HR 4466 was referral to the Committee on Ener-
prices, and equal treatment of prisoners as human be- gy and Commerce. Anyone with any further information
ings? Positive, effective change can only come about if is asked to contact Mr. Saxberg or the Pennsylvania Pris-
people are willing to set aside differences and come to- on Society. Thank you.
gether, willing to learn, understand and have compassion
for each other. Thank you, and God bless you.

When submitting a letter or
Jesse Keith Blough
HQ-7572, SCI Albion
column to Graterfriends for
publication, please remember to
STILL FIGHTING THE PHONE SYSTEM
attach a letter (or note on your
submission) that it is for
In the February issue, Mr. Yount brought up what he
called a “socially regressive commission on Pennsylvania
publication and that you are
inmates and their families.” I mention this because those the original author; date and
of you that have been around for a minute should re-
member his fight with the then T-Netix phone system. sign the declaration.
In late 2005 and early 2006, I picked up the torch and Thank you.
filed my own complaint with the Public Utility Commis-

8


IN RESPONSE TO MR. TERRY GRAHAM’S the commonwealth through the use of these release
INQUIRY REGARDING SB 1161 mechanisms for geriatric prisoners alone. But, in the hue
and cry for these needed reductions, where does the
Board of Parole and Pardons stand on these issues? They
Thanks to Graterfriends reader Dana Lomax Williams
seem to be the greatest hindrance to these necessary re-
(OP-2742, SCI Muncy), we have news to share regarding
ductions. The common person would think they’d have a
Senator Greenleaf’s SB 1161. Ms. Lomax found infor-
moral obligation to help the state reduce the budget in
mation in our November 2010 Graterfriends (Legislative
this crisis situation. They seem to get a free pass for not
Highlights) indicating that this bill was passed, becom-
doing their part to help.
ing Act 95 on October 27, 2010. The information about
the law is below: Where are the voices calling for those over at the Board
of Parole and Pardons to act? There is silence from the
“The Prison Reform Bill of 2010, sponsored by Senator
politicians, DOC officials, the press, the governor, the
Greenleaf, has undergone several revisions due to numer-
prison population, our family members, faith-based
ous amendments. Although the bill is quite different from
groups, and prisoner support organizations. Silence eve-
the original version…it provides provisions that will im-
rywhere! No one is calling for these gate-keepers of free-
pact programs, policies, and populations in corrections,
dom to act in the best interest of the state in this crisis
parole, and other criminal justice agencies. The new law
situation.
calls for adoption of risk assessment tools, sentencing
guidelines for state intermediate punishments, evalua- Together, we can change this. There is a solution for
tion of boot camps and state intermediate punishments, returning released citizens safely back into the communi-
confidentiality of victim information, distribution of pro- ty. To find out what you can do to help, write to me:
ceeds from inmate labor, use of evidence-based practices
in parole decisions for better reentry coordination, gradu- James Taylor
ated sanctions for technical parole violators, conditions of AF-4120
parole to include drug screenings of parolees regardless of PO Box 244
offense, omitting program non-completion as a reason to Graterford, PA 19426
deny parole, notification requirements for certain offend-
ers going to group homes in certain counties, and more.”
We thank Ms. Williams for sharing this information. SCI CAMP HILL DAY OF RESPONSIBILITY,
Mindy Bogue SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2012
Graterfriends Managing Editor
Editorial Note: This article was featured in “Monthly In-
mate News,” a newsletter from SCI Camp Hill. It was sub-
mitted to us by Harry Twiggs, AF-3025, SCI Camp Hill.
A GLARING CONTRADICTION
On Saturday, February 25, 2012, the Activity Depart-
Somebody, please tell me if the following makes sense: ment hosted a daylong event entitled, “A Day of Respon-
According to political figures and high-ranking DOC offi- sibility.” It was held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Over 125
cials, the State of Pennsylvania is facing an economic CDCC and GP inmates attended the event.
crisis and needs to reduce its prison population “out of
necessity” as a cost-saving measure. Clearly, the state The day was organized and planned with input from
has in parole, pre-release, and the commutations process, inmate Harry Twiggs and a committee, along with a for-
three release mechanisms available to achieve any level mer employee, Ms. Cathy Sabatino, overseeing the event.
of reductions it wants. After opening remarks by Harry Twiggs and Ms. Sabatino,
three guest speakers (Ms. Lynn Shiner, Karen Laird, and
The Board of Parole and Pardons, as the gate-keepers Destiny Brown) shared their experiences of the impact of
to freedom or continued imprisonment of the Common- crime on their lives. After a lunch break, the inmates were
wealth, can independently evaluate and release people as divided into small groups and rotated among subjects such
they see fit. But, for too long, a genuine show of mercy as responsibility, confession, repentance, forgiveness, rec-
has been absent from the Board of Pardons. There are onciliation, restoration, amends, and health.
hundreds of release-worthy candidates in the state: men
and women who, once granted their freedom, would nev- The main guest speaker for the day, Mr. Jonathon
er come back. This is especially so among geriatric pris- Queen, an ex-offender, ended the day with an insightful
oners, many of whom have served more than 30 years. and inspirational talk on the “hows and whys” of a re-
sponsible life.
The “powers that be” could make much better use of
such people. They are qualified to make contributions to Before ending the day, all the inmates recited and signed a
public safety upon release. Instead, this untapped hu- pledge to take responsibility for their past, present, and fu-
man potential is allowed to waste away needlessly, sub- ture actions and to make a difference in their communities.
ject to a conviction turned into a cruel sentence of death
A “Thank You” is extended to all the staff and inmates
by lethal incarceration. When is enough enough?
who worked so hard to make this “Day of Responsibility”
Tens of millions of tax-payer dollars could be saved by a huge success.

9


purchase cards from the prison commissary.”

Our Voices
My second personal challenge followed just days later.
Three approved phone numbers on my phone list suddenly,
without notice were inaccessible. The three numbers were
all local Erie 814 numbers that my brother and two sisters
obtained through a service called Google Voice. In short,
Google Voice is a service that allows individuals to assign
STICK TO YOUR MISSION additional phone numbers to an already existing land or
cellular phone line, at no cost. For a year I was able to en-
by Joshua Michael Uhrich, HS-4335, SCI Albion joy calling my siblings weekly, at a rate of $1.69 per 15-
minute phone call, as it was financially feasible. Now, that
As we entered 2012, I reflected on two DOC challenges opportunity is nearly a financial impossibility because a 15
I faced just prior to the Christmas season. Then, when I -minute long distance call is at least $6.00. Eventually, the
most recently learned of a certain change in DOC policy, DOC removed all Google Voice phone numbers.
all mere reflection was translated into a motivation to
act. I felt obliged to put pen to paper. Most recently the Pennsylvania DOC discontinued one
day of inmate visitation every month due to a cost saving
My first challenge was as follows. For Christmas 2010. initiative. It was this most recent issue that compelled
I sent out 75 cards—nearly all purchased from the com- me to expose the Pennsylvania DOC’s hypocrisy.
missary—to family and friends. This year, to be more
thrifty, I asked my parents to send me 50 blank Christ- The DOC’s mission statement in part reads: “The mis-
mas cards from their wealth of extras. After I did not sion of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections is…
receive the package for a week, my father investigated. to provide opportunities for inmates to acquire… values
He called the SCI-Albion mailroom and spoke with a necessary to become productive law-abiding citizens…”
gentleman—probably the mailroom supervisor. The DOC One such value for successful and productive reintegra-
employee informed my dad that the package was confis- tion into society is maintaining—or forming—a healthy
cated by the mailroom because inmates are not permit- support system while incarcerated. Research has proven
ted to receive “unsigned cards.” After my dad asked what that those who upon exiting the DOC’s custody are sur-
safety/security risk is associated with unsigned cards,
the employee responded, “Well, we prefer that inmates (See Mission, continued on page 14)

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE UNIFORM went through our paperwork page-by-page, looking for
COMMERCIAL CODE (UCC)? UCC information. So, naturally, I inquired as to why
they were so interested in confiscating this information.
by Dominic Hershey, JM-5721, SCI Somerset One of the COs went on a brief rant about how inmates
were trying to use this information to put liens on peo-
A few years ago, I was introduced by a friend to the ple, they’re clogging up the courts with frivolous motions,
world of “The Uniform Commercial Code”. At the time, and they don’t know that this is pertaining to corporate
there was a wealth of information in our institution. Fas- law and has nothing to do with us. At which time the
cinated, I studied night and day for months. Aside from other officer stopped him and said, “hold on now, I have
the initial shock of the material and its claims, I was a friend in Oregon who is sovereign; he has no birth cer-
equally puzzled as to how this “taking back of one’s tificate, no social security card, no license; doesn’t pay
TRUE freedom” could exist without the public as a whole taxes or anything!”
taking advantage of it, or even being aware of it! I surely
This was confirmation for us that the information, at
had never, in my 35 years, heard of it! So, of course, I
least in part, was valid. Several days later I was told
grew skeptical.
that someone, using this sort of information, had put a
Then, on an otherwise normal day, a war was waged, lien on then-Secretary of the DOC Jeffery Beard, and
and it had become obvious that either we were already that is what spurred the war on this information. Also,
being watched, or someone on the block was informing to my knowledge, all commercial and maritime law
security who had this information. There were three books, as well as anything pertaining to the UCC have
shake-downs that day. All three cells belonged to my been removed from our law library! Correct me if I’m
comrades, who also had UCC information in their cells. wrong, but isn’t that denying us access to the courts?
It was obvious that the COs were there solely for our And isn’t that my right under the 14th Amendment?
paperwork.
It’s not what we might do with the material; it’s wheth-
After having my paperwork taken, I was escorted to an
empty dorm area along with my cellie, where we were
informed to stand by while one of the security members (See UCC, continued on page 14)

10


together, or were married and dated each other. And
they have the audacity to talk about the inmates. The

Pssst… nerve. If we go in front of the hearing examiner, we are
doomed if we do not have four legs. She loves the pup-

Pass the Word
pies here in the puppy program.

I have never been a problematic inmate, like so many
others here. However, because I grieved a particular
staff member for discharging me from a program with-
SOUND OFF! out a legitimate reason, they had it in for me. This indi-
by Dana Lomax-Williams, OP-2742, SCI Muncy vidual happened to be very good friends with Kerrs-
Barr. Let’s just say, after I was paroled, this individual
We here at Muncy’s Women’s State Penitentiary are made sure that the hearing examiner punished me se-
elated to know that Representative Ronald Walters verely for something that truly didn’t warrant such
stated that the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights harsh punishment. Due to me going to the hole, my re-
Division is opening a federal probe of Pennsylvania’s lease was delayed by two years.
prison system, and that it will eventually cover all the
Unfortunately, the staff can call the hearing examiner
state prisons. Many women are very hesitant about
and either plead on our behalf, or ask for us to be cruci-
speaking out about the sexual harassment due to retali-
fied. She’s judge and jury. Well, it’s about time someone
ation, especially with these lengthy sentences. Who will
spoke up and sounded off. There are numerous issues
protect them?
that need to be exposed, and this is just the beginning
For one thing, we are in dire need of an unbiased, bo- many. I have nothing else to lose, but I am speaking out
na fide, certified hearing examiner. Kerrs-Barr (our for all my sisters that are imprisoned by their fear of
hearing examiner) gives out state sentences with the retaliation. We need an outside advocate. Changes must
help from and under the influence of her friends, who be made here. Look for more from me speaking out and
are usually the ones who wrote you up. How do I know? sounding off.
So glad you asked. From experience. Many of the em-
ployees here either grew up together, went to school Thank you.

AN IMPORTANT CASE as “an accomplice.” Under Pennsylvania law, one is an
accomplice if, “with the intent of promoting or facilitating
by George Rahsaan Brooks-Bey, AP-4884 SCI Frackville the commission of an offense,” he or she either “solicits
such other person to commit the offense or the crime” or
The third circuit court of appeals recently overturned a “aids or agrees or attempts to aid such other person in
first degree murder conviction in the case of Johnson v. planning or committing [the offense].” (See Everett v
Mechling, No. 08-2477. Johnson argued that the evidence Beard, 290 F3d500, 512 [3d cir. 2002]; Commonwealth v.
to convict him was insufficient to support the conviction. Cox, 863 A. 2d 536, 551 {PA. 2004].)
The court set out by applying the established federal
standard by the U.S. Supreme Court in Jackson v. Vir- The Third Circuit ruled Johnson’s conviction “did not”
ginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979). (“The Constitution prohibits survive the due process challenge because the “state rec-
the criminal conviction of any person except upon proof ord” did not contain sufficient evidence to permit any
of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt of each element of the reasonable fact finder to conclude that Johnson, as an
offense.”) However, “a properly instructed jury may occa- active partner, shared intent with his co-defendant to
sionally convict a person even when it can be said that no commit murder or that Johnson acted in such a manner
rational trier of fact could find guilt beyond a reasonable as to encourage or facilitate the murder. (See, Smith v.
doubt (Jackson at 318). A reviewing court must deter- Horn, 120 F. 3d. 400, 410 [3d cir. 1997].) The Court ruled
mine “whether, after viewing the evidence in the light that Johnson “was not the shooter and that securing a
most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of first-degree murder on accomplice liability where shared
fact could find the essential elements of crime beyond a intent is involved,” is no easy task. (See Commonwealth
reasonable doubt” (Jackson at 319). This standard must v. Raymond Johnson, 966 A2d 523, 543 [PA 2009]; Com-
be applied with explicit reference to the substantive ele- monwealth v Murphy, 844 A. 2d 1128, 1238 [PA. 2004].)
ments of the criminal offense defined by state law. The The Court ruled it is essential “that there be a logical
Court looked to Pennsylvania law only to establish the and convincing connection between the facts established
elements of the offense. They then turned to the “federal and the conclusions inferred. Put another way, the differ-
question” of whether the Superior Court was objectively ence between an inference and a speculation is that an
unreasonable in concluding that sufficient evidence sup- inference is a reasoned deduction for the evidence; a
ported Johnson’s convictions. speculation is a guess.” (See Commonwealth v. Konz, 402
A. 2d 773, 788 [PA. Super 2003].)
Pennsylvania statutes define murder as an “intentional
killing.” Johnson was found guilty of first-degree murder (See Important Case, continued on page 13)

11


Occupy Philly, continued from page 2 Smoking, continued from page 6

funded, to a significant extent, both basic and higher edu- of the secrets of Virginia’s successful policy. Wrote Tray-
cation in Pennsylvania, while continuing to build prisons. lor: “The effects were minimal because almost all Virgin-
ia jails had already eliminated tobacco products prior to
America has the highest persons per capita incarcer- this ban so inmates coming from local and regional jails
ated in the world, exceeding even China and Russia. were already tobacco free prior to coming into the state
“We have more frivolous laws that require prison sen- system.” Additionally, Virginia prisons implemented a
tences than any other country in the world, including “step down” program for inmates and staff using a curric-
rogue dictatorial states. We have become a country ulum developed by the National Commission on Correc-
where the prison industrial system has taken control, tional Health Care (NCCHC). Penalties for violating the
our answer to everything has become, ‘put them in tobacco ban will not be as harsh as other infractions, and
prison,’” said Danielle Finger, artist and political ac- will be cited as administrative offenses that lead to loss
tivist with Occupy Philly. of privileges but not criminal prosecution.
“There are so many problems that feed into the prison Many familiar with state prisons have warned that ban-
industrial complex in Pennsylvania, but the injustice ning smoking and tobacco products will only serve to in-
becomes clear when the state spends more on prisons crease violence in prisons and turn the items into contra-
than it does on schools,” said Nate Kleinman, a human band. Since implementing a tobacco ban in March 2009,
rights activist in Philadelphia. “This is just a disaster. Ohio officials have noticed an increase in violence and are
If we spent more money on educating our young we investigating to discover the cause. Gary Mohr, Director of
wouldn’t need as many prisons. Most crimes committed the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction,
are committed by desperate people — stealing something expressed concern over the rise in violence in Ohio prisons
to pay a bill, or feed an addiction — and they don’t have and stated “Tobacco has become a currency that’s used in
the education to get the few jobs that free trade has left our prisons.” There have been incidences of guards smug-
us with.” gling and selling cigarettes, but such events are rare in
proportion to the number of state prison employees.
More than 70 percent of Pennsylvania’s prisoners come
from minority communities, and 99 percent of them are Pennsylvania’s policy, effective September 11, 2008, is
from poor communities. The solution is simple: educate consistent with the Clean Indoor Air Act, which prohibits
our young people, bring jobs to the state. Don’t hinder smoking in a public place. Smoking is permitted only in
designated outdoor areas, and staff and inmates who
smoke are offered resources pertaining to smoking cessa-
We have more frivolous laws that tion. Additionally, the Inmate General Welfare Fund has
require prison sentences than any funding available to facility managers for smoking cessa-
tion programs.
other country in the world.
In deciding whether to begin a smoke and tobacco free
policy, officials must weigh a number of concerns and
companies with out-of-date over regulation, but imple-
considerations to make an informed decision. This in-
ment smart regulations that take business, the environ-
cludes balancing concerns over inmate health with ques-
ment, and — most importantly — people into account.
tions of whether inmates have a right to smoke. It also
If you want to lower the state budget in this “time of involves careful planning, as ending a nicotine habit
economic crisis,” lower the prison population and put the “cold-turkey” can be dangerous and terribly unpleasant.
right people in jail, such as violent offenders. Apply fair Nationally, it appears that banning smoking is becoming
prison sentences appropriate to the crime instead of the norm, and many state prison systems are eager to
three-to-seven years for a crime of omission, or a two-to- get on board.
four-year sentence for a drug problem. References:
100% Smokefree Correctional Facilities. Issue brief. American Non-
We need to depopulate our prisons and repopulate smokers' Rights Foundation, 2 Jan. 2012. Web. 17 Feb. 2012. <http://
our schools! www.no-smoke.org/pdf/100smokefreeprisons.pdf>.
Blitstein, Ryan. "Smokers Behind Bars Can Quit, Too." Miller-McCune.
18 Dec. 2008. Web. 17 Feb. 2012. <http://www.miller-mccune.com/health/
smokers-behind-bars-can-quit-too-4060/>.
Have you read the recent report Fitzgerald, Sandy. "Tobacco Ban Might Be Igniting Ohio Prison Vio-
lence." Newsmax.com. 23 Jan. 2012. Web. 17 Feb. 2012. <http://
about children of incarcerated par- www.newsmax.com/TheWire/prison-violence-ohio/2012/01/23/id/425101>.
ents? If you want to learn how we Gardner, Amy. "Cigarette Ban Being Implemented in Va. State Pris-
can help these “invisible victims” ons." Washington Post. 16 June 2009. Web. 17 Feb. 2012. <http://
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/15/
of incarceration, go to: AR2009061502330.html?nav=emailpage>.

www.prisonsociety.org and click on "Maxwell Muff Et Al. v. Terry Collins Et Al." Web. 17 Feb. 2012.
Zoroya, Gregg. "Smoking Bans Spread to Prisons." USATODAY.com.
the “What’s New?” page. 21 July 2004. Web. 17 Feb. 2012. <http://www.usatoday.com/news/
nation/2004-07-21-prison-smoking-usat_x.htm>.

12


Announcements
Literary
Corner
Preserving Your Claim Under the Prison KANGAROO COURT
Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) is a new docu-
ment that was recently sent to all of Pennsylvania’s state By David Lusik, CQ-3760, SCI Forest
prison libraries. It was written by Alex Rubenstein, 2012
Candidate for J.D. at Rutgers School of Law-Camden. It As I lay awake on my bunk waiting to got to court,
is intended to provide some background information on I had a vision of court jesters and barristers,
the PLRA, and also explain how the law impacts court
all disguised even to the eyes in fraud,
claims filed while in jail or prison. Additionally, this
pamphlet explains how to properly follow the grievance then came the judge in her polka dot robe that looked
process employed by the Pennsylvania Department of like a dress,
Corrections, in order to help protect any claims you may what a masquerade a real kangaroo court.
bring relating to prison conditions from being dismissed Next came Tyranny,
for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. Even for Here ye! Here ye! Here ye!
claims that are not affected by the exhaustion require- This court is now in session!
ment, this pamphlet should serve as a helpful tool for
The evil prosecutrix called her first witness,
correctly filing grievances.
A fat clown who left me panic stricken,
I felt like Alice falling down the rabbit hole in wonder-
land,
Beccaria: A Chapbook Anthology by Aja
Beech is once again available, for a limited time. To or- Then came the verdict of anarchy’s tempestuous cry,
der a copy, prisoners may send a check or money order Guilty, guilty, Guilty, on all charges,
for $5 to: My poor mother fainted,
My sister cried,
Aja Beech I picked myself up and told the judge give me liberty or
2445 Coral St. give me death,
Philadelphia, PA 19125 The lone old hag laughed and snarled,
She declared, I am the Queen, God and the law of
this land,
Life Support for Women with an Take this scoundrel off to jail forever!
Incarcerated Loved One is a new support group
for women looking for a safe place to share feelings and
concerns about incarcerated family members. The group
meets the second Tuesday of every month, from 4:00 p.m.
to 6:00 p.m., at the Pennsylvania Prison Society: 245 N.
Important Case, continued from page 11
Broad Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(Race-Vine station, across from Hahnemann Hospital). For an inference to be reasonable, it “must flow from
facts and circumstances proven from the record, and
For more information: must be of such volume and quality as to overcome the
Mason Barnett, 215-564-6005, ext. 106 (Prison Society) presumption of innocence and satisfy the jury that an
Desiree Cunningham 215-758-5877 (Support Group accused one’s guilt is beyond a reasonable doubt.” A rea-
questions only) sonable inference is one where the facts must flow from
inferences, not conjecture, speculation or suspicion. Infer-
ences must be reasonable and establish a prima facie
We seem to have a gap between case of criminal culpability; anything less rises no higher
our cherished ideals about than “guess work.” (See Commonwealth v. Wodjak. 466
A. 2d 991, 996 [PA 1983].)
justice and the realities of the Lorenzo Johnson (who has written articles in
prison environment. Graterfriends about his actual innocence) is black, poor
—Nicholas deB Katzenbach, and happened to be on the scene when the crime oc-
former U.S. Attorney General curred. Mere presence has “never been a crime,” but
that’s not how an all-white jury saw it.

13


Mission, continued from page 10

Save the Date! rounded by a spouse, close family members, and/or
friends are most likely to succeed in home and communi-
ty environments.

The 225th Annual Blank Christmas cards, reasonably priced phone calls,
and daily visitation: all three directly affect inmates’
Business Meeting systems of support. Inmates’ support systems directly
affect inmate values and the success rate of reintegra-
11:00 a.m., May 8, 2012 tion into society. The DOC should be applauding the fact
that prisoners have family members who can help their
incarcerated loved ones send special cards to other fami-
To be held at ly and friends. The DOC likewise should be praising
The Defender Association inmates for finding a legitimate, legal service that helps
them call family and friends at a reasonable cost. The
of Philadelphia DOC should be adding days and hours to allotted visita-
1441 Sansom St. tion times in order to accommodate family connection.
Instead, the DOC implicitly is discouraging and jeering
Philadelphia 19102 at these inmate-initiated attempts at rehabilitation.

Shame on you, Pennsylvania DOC, for not adhering
A light lunch will be served to your mission statement. C’mon… you can do better.
after the meeting.

Please RSVP to
tspence@prisonsociety.org or 215-
564-6005, x116 UCC, continued from page 10

er or not we have the right to possess these materials.
Has anyone heard of the right to bear arms? Yeah, we
Later in the day we will be celebrat- might shoot someone with the gun we buy and possess;
ing 225 years of service. Please nevertheless, we have the right to it. So, at this point, I
would like to know what is being done about the prohi-
watch for your invitation to this tick- bition and confiscation of said legal materials. Does
eted event or check our website for anyone have anything in front of the courts? I would
more details. like to know the status of any action being taken, and if
there is any class action, if I can be named as a plain-
tiff, and how.

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