While being in jail does mean the forfeit of some freedoms, prisoners do retain a number of constitutional protections. A handbook compiled by the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project provides an overview of prisoner rights in Pennsylvania based on both state and federal court decisions. Here are some of the major ones: Access to the Courts […]

Inmates struggling with opioid addiction in Pennsylvania jails do not have adequate access to medication and are more likely to overdose later as a result, according to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer. A recent report by the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project (PILP), a legal aid group, revealed that opioid addiction medication in the state’s […]

Mandatory overtime, insufficient staffing and dangerous conditions are prompting an exodus of correctional staff from Philadelphia’s prisons, according to a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer. More than 500 staff have quit during the pandemic, putting prison staffing rates at 31% below the city’s approved levels. Among the top complaints are long hours – including […]