The PA Prisons and Parole Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

The PA Prisons and Parole Podcast

Government

Frequency: 1 episode/44d. Total Eps: 62

The PA Prisons Podcast takes you inside the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to hear first-hand accounts about the programs and policies in state facilities. Episodes will feature people who work with the incarcerated and reentry populations of Pennsylvania to give you an inside look at corrections in the Keystone state.

Read moreCollapse

Site

RSS

Apple

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇩🇪 Germany - government
21/05/2026
#98
🇩🇪 Germany - government
20/05/2026
#82
🇩🇪 Germany - government
19/05/2026
#64
🇩🇪 Germany - government
18/05/2026
#45
🇨🇦 Canada - government
13/03/2026
#93

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

See all

https://thelastmile.org/
2 shares
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/0001/01/01/the-impact-of-hawaiis-hope-program-on-drug-use-crime-and-recidivism
2 shares
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/cor/inmate-visitation
2 shares

https://www.facebook.com/CorrectionsPA/posts/pfbid02PH35MWbbWwEP21cFmQ2u7DY7HWahm45DnTmgptgW8sfEeXmgaGhVfdLRTxVbLtHDl
2 shares
https://www.facebook.com/CorrectionsPA/videos/333013635666455
2 shares
https://www.facebook.com/CorrectionsPA/videos/392083205998340
2 shares

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-lDr3DQnHo&amp
1 share
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSLo6Sr3GmA
1 share

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

See all

RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 32%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

See all

Episode 20: Evaluation of In-Prison College Courses (Dr. Sarah Tahamont)

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 • Duration 26:11

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.

Read moreCollapse

Episode 19: Evidence-Based Corrections Policy

Monday, February 2, 2026 • Duration 22:53

In this episode, Dr. Bucklen discusses what it means for a program, policy, or practice in corrections to be “evidence-based.” This label gets applied frequently to all sorts of programs, policies, and practices in corrections but less examined is the strength and quality of the evidence. Dr. Bucklen also discusses cost-benefit analysis, and why effectiveness alone isn’t the finish line. This episode lays out practical advice for corrections leaders and policymakers to become better consumers of the research and science in order to truly become evidence-based.

Read moreCollapse

Episode 15: Cost-Benefit Analysis of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Thursday, April 24, 2025 • Duration 22:21

In this episode, Dr. Bret Bucklen discusses a new report released by his team this month, which is a cost-benefit analysis of the use of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). The study compares the benefit-to-cost ratio for four different types of MATs that are currently used by the PA Department of Corrections: Revia, Vivitrol, Suboxone, and Sublocade. Revia (pill form) and Vivitrol (shot form) are referred to as “antagonist” MATs; Suboxone (pill form) and Sublocade (shot form) are referred to as “partial agonist” MATs. How do the costs (including the potential cost of diversion in prison) and benefits (including recidivism reduction and overdose death reduction) stack up for these various forms of MAT? This episode explains what MAT is, how it is used within the department, and the results from this new cost-benefit analysis study.

Read moreCollapse

How the DOC Connects Employers with Much-Needed Workers

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 • Duration 21:03

As we prepare to celebrate Second Chance Month in April, the PA Prisons and Parole Podcast hosted DOC Workforce Development Specialist Dorenda Hamarlund to discuss her work in helping reentrants secure employment. Dorenda shared about barriers to employment for reentrants, how the DOC prepares inmates for employment upon release, and how second-chance hiring can benefit employers.

Read moreCollapse

Episode 14: The Recidivism & Desistance Initiative (RDI) (Dr. Lucas Malishchak)

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 • Duration 21:41

This episode features a conversation between Dr. Bret Bucklen (Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics) and Dr. Lucas Malishchak (Deputy Secretary of Reentry) on the PA DOC’s brand-new Recidivism & Desistance Initiative (RDI). This initiative was introduced in January 2025 to provide quantifiable public safety goals for the agency and to measure progress towards those goals. It is a performance management system designed to incentivize each site in the department—including each State Correctional Institution, Parole District Office, and Community Corrections Center—to contribute towards recidivism reduction and desistance enhancement.

Read moreCollapse

Catching Up with Our Other Canine Program

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 • Duration 18:40

While the PA DOC’s dog training programs are highly popular throughout the commonwealth, the DOC also features a separate dog program: the Bureau of Investigations and Intelligence K-9 Unit.

Capt. John Evans joins the podcast to discuss the vital work his unit performs in keeping contraband out of our facilities. He discusses the training the dogs receive, how their program works, and just how good these dogs are at their job.

Check out this Facebook post to see the dogs in their new vests: https://www.facebook.com/CorrectionsPA/posts/pfbid02PH35MWbbWwEP21cFmQ2u7DY7HWahm45DnTmgptgW8sfEeXmgaGhVfdLRTxVbLtHDl

Read moreCollapse

Episode 13: Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) (w/ Jim Stover)

Thursday, January 30, 2025 • Duration 20:39

This episode is a conversation between Dr. Bret Bucklen and Jim Stover (JRI Coordinator for the PA Department of Corrections) on the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI). We discuss what exactly JRI is, and also the history and impact of JRI efforts in Pennsylvania.

Read moreCollapse

SCI Spotlight: Houtzdale and Huntingdon

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 • Duration 35:02

Our year-long trip around Pennsylvania comes to a close as we wrap up this series focusing on each of our prisons with a visit to SCI Houtzdale and SCI Huntingdon.

The episode begins with Huntingdon Supt. John Rivello discussing the oldest facility in Pennsylvania, including its many vocation opportunities and its relationship with the community as its literally in the heart of town. Later in the episode, Houtzdale Supt. David Close discusses his facility’s Veterans Service Unit, the commissary program, and what life is really like inside the walls for incarcerated individuals.

While this series comes to a close, there’s plenty more on the way from the PA Prisons and Parole Podcast, so stay tuned!

Read moreCollapse

Episode 12: Year-End Review of Research

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 • Duration

In this year-end episode, Dr. Bret Bucklen and producer Jeff Coleman sit down to review and discuss some of the research and evaluation accomplishments at the PA Department of Corrections during 2024. They discuss results from studies on topics such as inmate visitation, Intensive Parole Supervision caseloads, reentry relocation, and the in-prison Violence Reduction Initiative.

Bret and Jeff also chat about what is ahead on the research and evaluation agenda in 2025, which is a preview for listeners of what they can expect to hear about in future episodes.

Read moreCollapse

SCI Spotlight: Greene and Laurel Highlands

Wednesday, November 27, 2024 • Duration

Our podcast’s tour of DOC facilities is winding down with only a few left, but not before a chat with SCI Greene and SCI Laurel Highlands.

This episode kicks off with a chat with Greene Superintendent Randy Evans and Deputy Superintendent for Centralized Services Mark Dialesandro. The duo share about Greene’s PA Correctional Garment Shop, its unique vocational programs, and its culture among staff and with the community.

Later in the show, Laurel Highlands Facilities Maintenance Manager Michael Kubek discusses his prison, including its unique role in caring for elderly inmates and inmates needing intensive medical support.

Read moreCollapse

The PA Prisons and Parole Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

The PA Prisons and Parole Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other13

Facebook3

Youtube2

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other13

Facebook3

Youtube2