Update

For as long as anyone can remember, Prison Society staff and volunteers have helped families navigate the challenges of having a loved one in prison or jail. Today, we call that service our Family Helpline.

Awareness of the Family Helpline has grown steadily since a deluge of worried families reached out to us at the start of COVID lockdowns. Year after year, use of the Helpline has grown, doubling - calls, letters, and emails between 2022 and 2024. 

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Meeting Critical Needs

Our Helpline connects people to the resources they need to navigate having a loved one in prison. Whether it's helping people access low-or no-cost forms of technology to stay connected, explaining child and family visiting policies, or guiding families through the process of compassionate release or hospice care for an elderly family member dying in prison, our staff is there to help.

Over the last four years, in addition to a steady increase in the volume of calls, emails, and letters we have witnessed a shift in the severity of requests for assistance. Before the pandemic, many people reaching out were seeking resources: Where can I find housing assistance upon coming home? What are the steps for setting up an in-person visit? Now, our staff regularly receive questions concerning high-priority physical and behavioral needs: I'm worried that my son may hurt himself, and I haven’t been able to get a hold of him in two weeks; I’m suffering symptoms of withdrawal, and I haven’t been seen by prison medical staff in two weeks."

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Increasing Our Reach

In 2023 alone, we responded to 11,202 requests, a significant increase from about 3,000 in 2020. We anticipate this number will rise to 14,000 requests in 2024. As we've increased the number of helpline staff and expanded the ways people can reach us, requests continue to skyrocket.

We prioritize family and community support, aiming to reduce the isolation caused by incarceration. The Helpline helps keep people connected, leading to safer prison environments and successful reintegration.

Your support makes this possible. Your donation helps the Prison Society continue to be a lifeline for families across Pennsylvania, ensuring they stay connected to their loved ones.