The PA Prisons and Parole Podcast

Episode 7: PA DOC Corrections Innovation Day

The PA Prisons and Parole Podcast

Show Notes

On July 31, 2024, the PA DOC, along with Penn State University, hosted their first ever Corrections Innovation Day. The event brought PA DOC staff from various levels and types of positions together with a large group of academic partners in order to brainstorm around innovative and testable solutions to some of the department’s most … Continue reading "Episode 7: PA DOC Corrections Innovation Day"

More from The PA Prisons and Parole Podcast

Oct 5, 2026

What happens when we interview AI itself about the future of AI in corrections? For the first time on the podcast, our guest isn’t human. Meet Dr. PracaBot, an AI bot with an honorary doctorate and plenty of opinions, for a completely unscripted conversation about how artificial intelligence could transform corrections—from prison safety and recidivism reduction to risk assessment, reentry, and the correctional workforce.

Jun 24, 2026

What happens after lawmakers pass criminal justice reform? Eventually, somebody has to ask: Did it actually work? In this episode, Bret Bucklen and Matt Kleiman (Executive Director of the PA Commission on Sentencing) discuss two major evaluations required under Pennsylvania’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative 2 (JRI2)—Short Sentence Parole and the State Drug Treatment Program—and what the data reveal when policy promises meet real-world outcomes.

Apr 30, 2026

What happens when a Pennsylvania prison unit is built around dignity, normalization, and human-centered design—and then tested with real science? Recorded onsite inside SCI Chester’s nationally recognized “Little Scandinavia” unit, this episode features Dr. Jordan Hyatt (Drexel University) sharing the philosophy behind the model and early results from a randomized controlled trial on violence, misconducts, and staff wellbeing.

Mar 23, 2026

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections recently developed a new five-year strategic plan – a roadmap for becoming a more intentional, data-driven organization. This episode features a discussion with Randee Brant (Chief of Staff for the PA DOC) about why the department chose this moment to develop a strategic plan, how the goals and measures were built, and what it will take for the plan to move the organization forward over the next five years.

Mar 4, 2026

Results are in from the most rigorous evaluation to date of Pell-funded college programs in prison. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Tahamont (University of Maryland) joins Pracademically Speaking to unpack findings from Pennsylvania’s randomized controlled trial of Second Chance Pell—and what the evidence really says about recidivism, employment, and the limits of impact at scale.

See all episodes →