Prison Activism Now: Prisoner Information Network

Founded by Kent Madsen and Marianne Johnstone in 1995, PIN works with people in prison and people leaving prison to support their successful re-entry into the community. In addition to re-entry support, PIN works with the Department of Corrections (DOC), Workforce Services and other human services groups to create employment and other opportunities for people with felony convictions.

Background: Founded by Kent Madsen and Marianne Johnstone in 1995, PIN works with people in prison and people leaving prison to support their successful re-entry into the community. In addition to re-entry support, PIN works with the Department of Corrections (DOC), Workforce Services and other human services groups to create employment and other opportunities for people with felony convictions. PIN members regularly attend DOC community meetings to talk about concerns raised by prisoners or by family members of prisoners.

In 2005: PIN provided re-entry services to over 650 prisoners and former prisoners. PIN volunteers greet people at the visiting/release areas of the prison as they are being released on Tuesdays (standard release day). Many others come to PIN’s office within 24 hours of their release, and others are transferred to one of Utah’s four DOC halfway houses. PIN’s volunteers visit the halfway houses weekly. PIN’s assistance includes transportation, hygiene kits, felon-friendly employment and housing lists, books and clothing. PIN registers close to 80% of these ex-prisoners to vote.

PIN was a supporter of the DORA (Drug Offender Reform Act) and was also one of several groups who opposed a proposal for the Utah DOC to contract prison medical services to a private company. The legislature listened and the state-run medical system is still in place.

This fall, representatives of the prisons-for-profit industry appeared at interim legislative meetings, hoping to convince legislators to open up Utah to a prison-for-profit and looking for other ways private companies can benefit from Utah’s prison population. Legislation is planned to ask prison-for profit to build treatment centers to house prisoners. The committee is split on support. PIN will be educating legislators about the true picture of prisons-for profit and the need to reduce Utah’s prison population.

To learn more, visit www.prisonernetwork.com

This profile originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2005 Justice Matters.