To quote Morgan Freeman’s character ‘Red’ in Shawshank Redemption when in front of the Parole Board and asked if he felt he was rehabilitated he responded… “There's not a day goes by I don't feel regret. Not because I'm in here, or because you think I should. I look back on the way I was then: a young, stupid kid who committed that terrible crime. I want to talk to him. I want to try and talk some sense to him, tell him the way things are. But I can't. That kid's long gone and this old man is all that's left. I got to live with that”...

I have a mission to stop the bullshit that goes on in the judicial system in PA. My daughter is currently serving time in Cambridge Springs State Prison, Cambridge Springs PA and we hope to get her out of there in July 2010. I know from past experience that this may not happen on time. The prison system is a big fat game and they do everything on their own time and when they feel like it. I had another daughter that was serving time in Muncy State Prison and was supposed to be released in January 2009 and didn't get out until July 2009. So I know how this whole process works. 'When we get the paperwork done'..., ...'when you meet the requirements'..., ...'when you complete the classes you have to take'...BULLSHIT! Being released from prison is a privelege, not a right. Did you know that? The real reason is the money. The prison system is a money making racket and they don't give a shit if you're supposed to get out or not.

Recently I found out that 2000 prisoners from PA State prisons have been or will be sent to facilities outside of PA. The prisons chosen were Green Rock Correctional Center near Chatham, Va and Muskegon Correctional Facility in Muskegon, Mich. Apparently those two facilities were selected because they are similar in operation to Pennsylvania correctional institutions and reasonably priced. The money is of course the most important aspect, right? It doesn't matter that inmates have been taken hundreds of miles from their families and friends. But apparently the reason they chose these 2000 inmates were because they received little or no visits. Nice.

It is costing Pennsylvania $62 a day per inmate and a significant portion of the projected budget PA State issuances for the 2010 fiscal year is attributable to the construction of three new prisons, each containing 2,000 plus beds. Now wouldn't it make more sense, and be more cost efficient to:

1. Early parole inmates that have served a significant amount of their sentence.
2. Early parole inmates that do not have a violent crime.
3. Reconsider what is deemed a violent crime. ( Anything that caused bodily harm or threat or where a weapon was actually used).
4. Stop throwing people in prison for petty offenses.
5. Get inmates out on their release date and stop procrastinating.
6. Create alternative punishments for minor offenses.
7. Get rid of judges that are biased and arrogant, ignorant to the actual job they should be holding.

I would rather see someone who had a drug offense out along the road picking up trash or painting fences or working at construction sites than spending time in prison and hogging up room that should be for rapists, murderer's, child molesters and other heinous criminals.

My son in law recently applied for the Census Bureau job in our area. He filled out an application, took a short test and before he left the test center, he knew he passed so he was anxious to get the job. A week or so after he took the test, he received a letter in the mail stating he didn’t get the job because he had drug charges in the past. That question was on the application. He answered honestly. It’s been almost 3 years since he had drug charges. There weren’t any questions on the application about felonies or any other criminal behavior. So I guess when the Census Bureau sends workers to homes across the nation, you could be face to face with a rapist, child molester, burglar or other convict, but at least you won’t have to worry about those horrible drug addicts!

Jon's Jail Journal

Jon's Jail Journal

Links of interest from PrisonSociety.org

Human Rights Watch

Prisoner's Pages

Prisoners.com is a nonprofit corporation of education, information and charity. Their mission is to benefit the 120,000+ state, local and federal prisoners in Pennsylvania, their families and loved ones. They also aim to assist prisoners everywhere.

Prisoners.com



If you have a friend or loved one in prison or a county jail, it can be a stressful time. Some people may not even know where their loved one is. Check the links below by state to locate your inmate.

Federal - Online inmate locator here: http://www.bop.gov/

Alabama - Online offender search here: http://www.doc.state.al.us/

Alaska - Uses the VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) system as well as a toll free number to call for inmate information. More info here: https://www.vinelink.com/vinelink/initMap.do

Arizona - Online offender search here: http://www.azcorrections.gov/

Arkansas - Online inmate search here: http://www.adc.arkansas.gov/

California - CDCR has a number you can call for information on the location of an inmate and nothing further. More info here: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/

Colorado - Online inmate locator here: https://exdoc.state.co.us/

Connecticut - Online offender search here: http://www.ctinmateinfo.state.ct.us/

Delaware - Delaware also uses the VINElink web site :https://www.vinelink.com/

Florida - Online offender search here: http://www.dc.state.fl.us/

Georgia - Online inmate locator here : http://www.dcor.state.ga.us/

Hawaii - The Hawaii Department of Public Safety is skeletal at best. Very little information is available, however there are several phone numbers that could be of use to finding an inmate, listed under Corrections on this page: http://hawaii.gov/

Idaho - Online offender search here: https://www.accessidaho.org/

Illinois - Online inmate search here: http://www.idoc.state.il.us/

Indiana - Online offender search here: http://www.in.gov/

Iowa - Online offender search here: http://www.doc.state.ia.us/

Kansas - Online offender search here: http://doc.ks.gov/

Kentucky - Online offender lookup system here : http://apps.corrections.ky.gov/

Louisiana - Also uses VINElink and has a phone number to call as well. More info here: http://www.doc.louisiana.gov/

Maine - There is an email address available to ask for details regarding an inmate. More info here: http://www.state.me.us/

Maryland - Online inmate locator here : http://www.dpscs.state.md.us

Massachusetts - VINElink again, more info here : http://www.mass.gov/

Michigan - Online offender search here: http://www.michigan.gov/

Minnesota - Online offender locator here : http://info.doc.state.mn.us/

Mississippi - Online inmate search here : http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/

Missouri - Online Offender search here: https://web.mo.gov/

Montana - Uses VINElink, more info here : http://www.cor.mt.gov/

Nebraska - Online inmate locator here : http://dcs-inmatesearch.ne.gov/

Nevada - Online offender search here: http://www.doc.nv.gov/

New Hampshire - Online inmate locator here : http://www4.egov.nh.gov/

New Jersey - Online offender search here : https://www6.state.nj.us/

New Mexico - Online offender search here: http://corrections.state.nm.us/

New York - Online inmate lookup here : http://nysdocslookup.docs.state.ny.us/

North Carolina - Online offender search here : http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/

North Dakota - Online inmate lookup here : http://www.nd.gov/

Ohio - Online offender search here: http://www.drc.ohio.gov/

Oklahoma - Online offender lookup here: http://docapp065p.doc.state.ok.us/

Oregon - Online offender search here : http://docpub.state.or.us/

Pennsylvania - Online inmate locator here : http://www.cor.state.pa.us/

Rhode Island - Online inmate search here: http://www.doc.ri.gov/

South Carolina - Online inmate search here: http://www.doc.sc.gov/

South Dakota - A phone number is available for you to call here : http://doc.sd.gov/

Tennessee - Online offender lookup here: https://www.tennesseeanytime.org/

Texas - Online offender search here: http://168.51.178.33/

Utah - Online offender search here: http://www.cr.ex.state.ut.us/

Vermont - Online offender locator here : http://www.doc.state.vt.us/

Virginia - Online inmate search here: http://www2.vipnet.org/

Washington - Online offender search here: http://www.doc.wa.gov/

Washington, DC - Uses VINElink, more info here : http://doc.dc.gov/

West Virginia - Online offender search here: http://www.wvdoc.com/

Wisconsin - If you are registered, you can utilize Victim's Voice and search for an inmate here : https://www.wivictimsvoice.org/

Wyoming - Uses VINElink and more information can be found here : https://www.vinelink.com/


I have a daughter in prison. I have already written an intel on Qondio.com about this and although writing it was painful, I was truthful about my feelings about the whole matter and I feel better getting it out in the open. The reason I'm writing this intel is because people need to know about the prison release program. I'm not going into great detail, don't worry, it isn't going to bore you.

I HATE drug addiction and everything about it. I hate what it makes you do and where it leads, but unfortunately there are hundreds of people in the same situation as my daughter and fortunately she is blessed with a wonderful Mom, (Me!), and she is coming home to live soon and we are going to do everything in our power to get her to art school in Pittsburgh, a lifelong dream of hers. But there are inmates released out there that have no where to go, and no one that cares. People don't use drugs with the intention of becoming addicts, they don't have a goal in life to end up in trouble and they don't set out to commit crimes and end up in jail. I think it's just easier for some courts to incarcerate them and 'get them out of their hair.'

So this is about helping people. We need changes in this world and Oprah can't do it alone. We all need to help people. Make a change, make a difference, help someone you don't even know. I have sent clothing, that I purchased myself at Goodwill and yard sales, to these halfway houses and to released inmates that my daughter met in prison. I have sent stationary, stamps, puzzle books and numerous other things. You clean out your closet on occasion don't you? Donate the clothing to a good cause, not just Goodwill either. If there is a halfway house in your area, call them and find out if they take clothing donations. If there is a drug rehab center call them, too. If you're an avid yard- saler, spend an extra $10.00 and buy shoes and clothing that you can donate.

Please help these people and give them a second chance. These 'criminals' are mothers and fathers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters, neighbors, co-workers and friends. Most of them really do want a second chance but the prisons send them to these facilities and many times they have nothing but the clothing on their backs. The system is failing these people and many times they end up back in prison because they can't find work to support themselves. Give them some dignity, give them a chance.