Pennsylvania Prison Society

The Pennsylvania Prison Society is one of the oldest prison reform organizations in the United States. Founded in Philadelphia in 1787, it grew from an early belief that people in prison should be treated with dignity and that conditions behind bars should not be hidden from public view.

Today, the organization describes its work as helping people in prison, supporting families, and promoting accountability and transparency in Pennsylvania’s state and county correctional facilities. It also says it is the only organization in the Commonwealth with legal authority to visit any prison or jail, giving it a rare role as an independent monitor.

Its modern work includes direct assistance, prison monitoring, public education, and advocacy. That mix of on-the-ground access and reform-minded mission makes the Pennsylvania Prison Society an important voice in conversations about incarceration, oversight, and human dignity in Pennsylvania.