Probation and Parole

Pennsylvania’s parole system starts evaluating “readiness” up to eight months before an inmate’s minimum date, combining factors outside their control (crime details, sentencing notes, victim/judge input) with things they have to actively produce: a vetted home plan, a job or vocational training, and completed programming (education, treatment, life skills). All of it gets weighed in one interview and vote. A denial doesn’t just delay release — it resets the cycle, requiring the same documentation and compliance to be sustained again with no guarantee it’ll be enough next time.

Even after approval, several conditions (drug screening, fee payments, residence approval) must clear before release, and supervision afterward is strict. A technical violation — missing a check-in, failing a drug test — can mean months in a violator center, with time scaling up by repeat offense (six months, then nine, then a year). A new conviction triggers recommitment to a correctional facility and another mandatory program before reparole is possible. So stability has to be proven repeatedly across separate checkpoints — housing, employment, treatment, behavior — and a single setback can undo progress made at earlier stages, not just the current one.

Try to follow this flowchart!

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After you've checked in with your PO, check below for what's next.

Alberto Alvarez

Alberto Alvarez

You bump into a young man, Bill. Bill is wearing a white, cut-off t-shirt, and a coffee-stained Phillies cap. He asks you for a cigarette as you strike up a conversation. He has been in and out of the city’s shelters for the past three years. He says one of the hardest things has been staying healthy.

You realize the next few weeks are going to be a lot. You need a place that will see you without making things complicated: a walk-in place where you can get a checkup and talk through mental health or medications. Bill mentions someone told him about a new clinic that is built for returning citizens where ICJ Philly FIGHT used to be. He remembers it’s on the 2nd floor but doesn’t remember the street address. You’ll probably have to ask someone to look it up.

While you are walking there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:
1. What health issue would be easiest to put off, and what could happen if you did?
2. What happens to someone's medical care when they're released in the middle of treating a chronic condition — diabetes, HIV, a mental health diagnosis?

Bret Boone

Bret Boone

Day One is over, but the challenge of reentry is only just beginning. You have found a place to sleep and eat for the next 30 days at Philly House. You connected with medical services at Project HOME’s Hub of Hope. You know where to go when it is time to check in with your P.O., and you have looked into the vocational support offered at ICJ. Now it is time to rest, because you will have to take to the city streets bright and early tomorrow morning. What do you think you should work on next?

Are you prescribed any medication, and have you been taking it since your release? Do you know where you can go to find a Primary Care provider, or how you will pay for the visit? How’s your mental health? Do you have any job leads yet? Don’t let the “to-do” list overwhelm you, but understand that you still have a lot of work to do.

As you head back to the Day One Challenge reflection at First Baptist Church, take some time to reflect upon the following questions with your group:

1. What surprised you the most about the Day One Challenge today?
2. Was anything more difficult than you anticipated?
3. Knowing what you know now, what do you think is the greatest challenge facing returning citizens in Philadelphia?

Redemption Housing’s vision is to provide returning citizens with transitional housing, mentoring relationships, and support as they work towards independent living. If you were a resident in one of Redemption Housing’s programs, how do you think their volunteers would have been able to help you today?

Christopher Caine

Christopher Caine

One of your first priorities is to find somewhere to sleep tonight. When you arrived back in Philadelphia, someone handed you a “Where to Turn” pamphlet in the SEPTA terminal. Take a look at the pamphlet. Does it include any information about area shelters? Because it’s a Saturday morning, your options might be limited. You don’t have a cell phone yet, so you can’t call around. Do any of the shelter options catch your eye?

Now you also realize that you’re getting hungry. Very hungry. People in your position usually have a few options. They might panhandle for spare change or a bite to eat outside of the local sandwich shop, or they might use the “Where to Turn” guide to find a local soup kitchen or food pantry. Many soup kitchens are closed on weekends. Perhaps when you arrive, you can ask the shelter if they have any suggestions.

Pick a shelter that houses men, and visit there next. Hopefully, the shelter can give you a place to stay until you are able to find a more long-term solution. Even better would be a meal to hold you over too.

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

Do you have any fears about sleeping in a shelter? What if the shelter is crowded and you have to risk heat exhaustion outside?
What would you say are the main causes of homelessness? Why?
Have you ever been inside a homeless shelter? Tell the group about your experiences.
How many more stops can you make before you need food and water?

Derek Dodd

Derek Dodd

You bump into a young man, Bill. Bill is wearing a white, cut-off t-shirt, and a coffee-stained Phillies cap. He asks you for a cigarette as you strike up a conversation. He has been in and out of the city’s shelters for the past three years. He says one of the hardest things has been staying healthy.

You realize the next few weeks are going to be a lot. You need a place that will see you without making things complicated: a walk-in place where you can get a checkup and talk through mental health or medications. Bill mentions someone told him about a new clinic that is built for returning citizens where ICJ Philly FIGHT used to be. He remembers it’s on the 2nd floor but doesn’t remember the street address. You’ll probably have to ask someone to look it up.

While you are walking there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:
1. What health issue would be easiest to put off, and what could happen if you did?
2. What happens to someone's medical care when they're released in the middle of treating a chronic condition — diabetes, HIV, a mental health diagnosis?

Erik Elkins

Erik Elkins

The city feels louder than you remember. You have only been out for a little while, but already your head feels too full. Every block seems to bring to mind another thing to figure out. You need a place to stop, use the bathroom, get a cup of coffee, and talk to someone who can help you sort out what comes next. You remember hearing that there is a place underground in the SEPTA concourse, with an entrance in Dilworth Plaza next to the skating rink. You remember something about “hope” in the name.

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:
1. What are some mundane things that it's easy to take for granted but you might not have available on your first day out?
2. What are some basic needs you want to start planning for later, even if you do not need them this minute?

Frederick Foreman

Frederick Foreman

You bump into a young man, Bill. Bill is wearing a white, cut-off t-shirt, and a coffee-stained Phillies cap. He asks you for a cigarette as you strike up a conversation. He has been in and out of the city’s shelters for the past three years. He says one of the hardest things has been staying healthy.

You realize the next few weeks are going to be a lot. You need a place that will see you without making things complicated: a walk-in place where you can get a checkup and talk through mental health or medications. Bill mentions someone told him about a new clinic that is built for returning citizens where ICJ Philly FIGHT used to be. He remembers it’s on the 2nd floor but doesn’t remember the street address. You’ll probably have to ask someone to look it up.

While you are walking there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:
1. What health issue would be easiest to put off, and what could happen if you did?
2. What happens to someone's medical care when they're released in the middle of treating a chronic condition — diabetes, HIV, a mental health diagnosis?

Gregory Gadsden

Gregory Gadsden

One of your first priorities is to find somewhere to sleep tonight. When you arrived back in Philadelphia, someone handed you a “Where to Turn” pamphlet in the SEPTA terminal. Take a look at the pamphlet. Does it include any information about area shelters? Because it’s a Saturday morning, your options might be limited. You don’t have a cell phone yet, so you can’t call around. Do any of the shelter options catch your eye?

Now you also realize that you’re getting hungry. Very hungry. People in your position usually have a few options. They might panhandle for spare change or a bite to eat outside of the local sandwich shop, or they might use the “Where to Turn” guide to find a local soup kitchen or food pantry. Many soup kitchens are closed on weekends. Perhaps when you arrive, you can ask the shelter if they have any suggestions.

Pick a shelter that houses men, and visit there next. Hopefully, the shelter can give you a place to stay until you are able to find a more long-term solution. Even better would be a meal to hold you over too.

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

Do you have any fears about sleeping in a shelter? What if the shelter is crowded and you have to risk heat exhaustion outside?
What would you say are the main causes of homelessness? Why?
Have you ever been inside a homeless shelter? Tell the group about your experiences.
How many more stops can you make before you need food and water?

Henry Holmes

Henry Holmes

One of your first priorities is to find somewhere to sleep tonight. When you arrived back in Philadelphia, someone handed you a “Where to Turn” pamphlet in the SEPTA terminal. Take a look at the pamphlet. Does it include any information about area shelters? Because it’s a Saturday morning, your options might be limited. You don’t have a cell phone yet, so you can’t call around. Do any of the shelter options catch your eye?

Now you also realize that you’re getting hungry. Very hungry. People in your position usually have a few options. They might panhandle for spare change or a bite to eat outside of the local sandwich shop, or they might use the “Where to Turn” guide to find a local soup kitchen or food pantry. Many soup kitchens are closed on weekends. Perhaps when you arrive, you can ask the shelter if they have any suggestions.

Pick a shelter that houses men, and visit there next. Hopefully, the shelter can give you a place to stay until you are able to find a more long-term solution. Even better would be a meal to hold you over too.

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

Do you have any fears about sleeping in a shelter? What if the shelter is crowded and you have to risk heat exhaustion outside?
What would you say are the main causes of homelessness? Why?
Have you ever been inside a homeless shelter? Tell the group about your experiences.
How many more stops can you make before you need food and water?

Jeremiah Jones

Jeremiah Jones

The city feels louder than you remember. You have only been out for a little while, but already your head feels too full. Every block seems to bring to mind another thing to figure out. You need a place to stop, use the bathroom, get a cup of coffee, and talk to someone who can help you sort out what comes next. You remember hearing that there is a place underground in the SEPTA concourse, with an entrance in Dilworth Plaza next to the skating rink. You remember something about “hope” in the name.

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:
1. What are some mundane things that it's easy to take for granted but you might not have available on your first day out?
2. What are some basic needs you want to start planning for later, even if you do not need them this minute?

Karl Kolinski

Karl Kolinski

One of your first priorities is to find somewhere to sleep tonight. When you arrived back in Philadelphia, someone handed you a “Where to Turn” pamphlet in the SEPTA terminal. Take a look at the pamphlet. Does it include any information about area shelters? Because it’s a Saturday morning, your options might be limited. You don’t have a cell phone yet, so you can’t call around. Do any of the shelter options catch your eye?

Now you also realize that you’re getting hungry. Very hungry. People in your position usually have a few options. They might panhandle for spare change or a bite to eat outside of the local sandwich shop, or they might use the “Where to Turn” guide to find a local soup kitchen or food pantry. Many soup kitchens are closed on weekends. Perhaps when you arrive, you can ask the shelter if they have any suggestions.

Pick a shelter that houses men, and visit there next. Hopefully, the shelter can give you a place to stay until you are able to find a more long-term solution. Even better would be a meal to hold you over too.

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

Do you have any fears about sleeping in a shelter? What if the shelter is crowded and you have to risk heat exhaustion outside?
What would you say are the main causes of homelessness? Why?
Have you ever been inside a homeless shelter? Tell the group about your experiences.
How many more stops can you make before you need food and water?

Michael Mastellone

Michael Mastellone

One of your first priorities is to find somewhere to sleep tonight. When you arrived back in Philadelphia, someone handed you a “Where to Turn” pamphlet in the SEPTA terminal. Take a look at the pamphlet. Does it include any information about area shelters? Because it’s a Saturday morning, your options might be limited. You don’t have a cell phone yet, so you can’t call around. Do any of the shelter options catch your eye?

Now you also realize that you’re getting hungry. Very hungry. People in your position usually have a few options. They might panhandle for spare change or a bite to eat outside of the local sandwich shop, or they might use the “Where to Turn” guide to find a local soup kitchen or food pantry. Many soup kitchens are closed on weekends. Perhaps when you arrive, you can ask the shelter if they have any suggestions.

Pick a shelter that houses men, and visit there next. Hopefully, the shelter can give you a place to stay until you are able to find a more long-term solution. Even better would be a meal to hold you over too.

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

Do you have any fears about sleeping in a shelter? What if the shelter is crowded and you have to risk heat exhaustion outside?
What would you say are the main causes of homelessness? Why?
Have you ever been inside a homeless shelter? Tell the group about your experiences.
How many more stops can you make before you need food and water?

Nicholas Neary

ANicholas Neary

Day One is over, but the challenge of reentry is only just beginning. You have found a place to sleep and eat for the next 30 days at Philly House. You connected with medical services at Project HOME’s Hub of Hope. You know where to go when it is time to check in with your P.O., and you have looked into the vocational support offered at ICJ. Now it is time to rest, because you will have to take to the city streets bright and early tomorrow morning. What do you think you should work on next?

Are you prescribed any medication, and have you been taking it since your release? Do you know where you can go to find a Primary Care provider, or how you will pay for the visit? How’s your mental health? Do you have any job leads yet? Don’t let the “to-do” list overwhelm you, but understand that you still have a lot of work to do.

As you head back to the Day One Challenge reflection at First Baptist Church, take some time to reflect upon the following questions with your group:

1. What surprised you the most about the Day One Challenge today?
2. Was anything more difficult than you anticipated?
3. Knowing what you know now, what do you think is the greatest challenge facing returning citizens in Philadelphia?

Redemption Housing’s vision is to provide returning citizens with transitional housing, mentoring relationships, and support as they work towards independent living. If you were a resident in one of Redemption Housing’s programs, how do you think their volunteers would have been able to help you today?

Patrick Pillman

Patrick Pillman

The city feels louder than you remember. You have only been out for a little while, but already your head feels too full. Every block seems to bring to mind another thing to figure out. You need a place to stop, use the bathroom, get a cup of coffee, and talk to someone who can help you sort out what comes next. You remember hearing that there is a place underground in the SEPTA concourse, with an entrance in Dilworth Plaza next to the skating rink. You remember something about “hope” in the name.

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:
1. What are some mundane things that it's easy to take for granted but you might not have available on your first day out?
2. What are some basic needs you want to start planning for later, even if you do not need them this minute?

Ralph Reed

Ralph Reed

Day One is over, but the challenge of reentry is only just beginning. You have found a place to sleep and eat for the next 30 days at Philly House. You connected with medical services at Project HOME’s Hub of Hope. You know where to go when it is time to check in with your P.O., and you have looked into the vocational support offered at ICJ. Now it is time to rest, because you will have to take to the city streets bright and early tomorrow morning. What do you think you should work on next?

Are you prescribed any medication, and have you been taking it since your release? Do you know where you can go to find a Primary Care provider, or how you will pay for the visit? How’s your mental health? Do you have any job leads yet? Don’t let the “to-do” list overwhelm you, but understand that you still have a lot of work to do.

As you head back to the Day One Challenge reflection at First Baptist Church, take some time to reflect upon the following questions with your group:

1. What surprised you the most about the Day One Challenge today?
2. Was anything more difficult than you anticipated?
3. Knowing what you know now, what do you think is the greatest challenge facing returning citizens in Philadelphia?

Redemption Housing’s vision is to provide returning citizens with transitional housing, mentoring relationships, and support as they work towards independent living. If you were a resident in one of Redemption Housing’s programs, how do you think their volunteers would have been able to help you today?

Salvador Salas

Salvador Salas

Day One is over, but the challenge of reentry is only just beginning. You have found a place to sleep and eat for the next 30 days at Philly House. You connected with medical services at Project HOME’s Hub of Hope. You know where to go when it is time to check in with your P.O., and you have looked into the vocational support offered at ICJ. Now it is time to rest, because you will have to take to the city streets bright and early tomorrow morning. What do you think you should work on next?

Are you prescribed any medication, and have you been taking it since your release? Do you know where you can go to find a Primary Care provider, or how you will pay for the visit? How’s your mental health? Do you have any job leads yet? Don’t let the “to-do” list overwhelm you, but understand that you still have a lot of work to do.

As you head back to the Day One Challenge reflection at First Baptist Church, take some time to reflect upon the following questions with your group:

1. What surprised you the most about the Day One Challenge today?
2. Was anything more difficult than you anticipated?
3. Knowing what you know now, what do you think is the greatest challenge facing returning citizens in Philadelphia?

Redemption Housing’s vision is to provide returning citizens with transitional housing, mentoring relationships, and support as they work towards independent living. If you were a resident in one of Redemption Housing’s programs, how do you think their volunteers would have been able to help you today?

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