Monday, February 24, 2025, 5:34PM |  49°
MENU
Advertisement
Mark Holden, general counsel with Koch Industries and advisory chairman for Safe Streets and Second Chances, addresses the media about the contributions to the re-entry initiative, Thursday, at the Goodwill SWPA Workforce Development Center in Lawrenceville on Thursday.
4
MORE

Charles Koch Institute to fund criminal justice initiative in Pennsylvania

Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette

Charles Koch Institute to fund criminal justice initiative in Pennsylvania

Funding from The Charles Koch Institute will allow Pennsylvanians returning home from prison in Allegheny, Fayette and Washington counties to participate in a national re-entry initiative that aims to help them succeed after incarceration.

Officials from the state Department of Corrections, advocacy organization Safe Streets & Second Chances, Koch Industries and Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania announced the program Thursday at a news conference at Goodwill’s offices in Lawrenceville.

Most people in prison eventually return to their communities, and making sure they re-enter successfully improves their lives, makes communities safer, and saves money, officials said.

Advertisement

It’s also an area of bipartisan agreement.

Barbed wire and fencing outside SCI Huntingdon can be seen in this photo taken in Huntingdon, Pa.
Kate Giammarise
Pa. prisons chief says correctional facilities will remain on lockdown

Mark Holden, general counsel for Koch Industries and advisory chairman for Safe Streets & Second Chances, said the issue makes both moral and fiscal sense.

“This is really a no-brainer,” he said.

Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said the issue can’t be viewed through just a Republican or Democratic lens.

Advertisement

“There’s areas, I think it’s pretty safe to say, the governor would not agree with the Koch brothers on,” he said, alluding to the support of conservative political causes by the billionaire brothers, Charles and David Koch. Gov. Tom Wolf is a Democrat. “But this area, in particular, everyone agrees.”

Inmates returning to the community often have challenges such as no high school diploma, a substance addiction or mental illness, Mr. Wetzel said.

The initiative involves studying 2,200 participants across four states and aims to build the capacity of existing re-entry service providers and lower recidivism. In addition to Pennsylvania, the $4 million program is in Texas, Florida and Kentucky.

“To my knowledge, this is the largest randomized control trial of a re-entry program of its kind,” said researcher Carrie Pettus-Davis of the Florida State University Institute for Justice Research and Development.

“You get used to being by yourself for so long, when you get out, you’re not used to people being near you and touching you,” says Richard Dale Thomas of Uniontown.
Rich Lord and Kate Giammarise
Freedom a struggle after years in solitary confinement

Kate Giammarise: kgiammarise@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3909.

First Published: August 31, 2018, 1:08 p.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
President Donald Trump speaks at the Governors Working Session in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Feb. 21, 2025.
1
opinion
Bruce Ledewitz: The Supreme Court will step up and Trump will back down
Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden catches a pass against Ohio State during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.
2
sports
Which positions are strong and weak at NFL combine? And how will Steelers approach this draft?
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (27) intercepts a pass during a failed two-point conversion by the Kansas City Chiefs at Acrisure Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in the North Shore. The Kansas City Chiefs won 29-10.
3
sports
Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 02.24.25
La Grassa Pizza is now offering four-cut, late-night pies at The Vandal on Saturday nights.
4
life
Pittsburgh pizza news: La Grassa’s late-night pies and a big win for Mercurio’s
Pirates first-round pick Konnor Griffin hits against the Twins at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida, on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
5
sports
Pirates top pick Konnor Griffin has raised eyebrows at spring training. Next step is learning to be a pro
Mark Holden, general counsel with Koch Industries and advisory chairman for Safe Streets and Second Chances, addresses the media about the contributions to the re-entry initiative, Thursday, at the Goodwill SWPA Workforce Development Center in Lawrenceville on Thursday.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Michael Smith, president and CEO of Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, speaks about the re-entry initiative pilot program on Thursday, held at the Goodwill SWPA Workforce Development Center in Lawrenceville.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Carrie Pettus-Davis, professor at Florida State University Institute for Justice Research and development/principal researcher, talks about the findings in her study on Thursday.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
John Wetzel, corrections secretary at the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, talks about the lock down at the State Corrections facilities on Thursday in Lawrenceville.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST news
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story