Women Lifer's Resume Project
WLRP supports Pennsylvania Women Lifer's who want to share their positive experiences, personal growth, and to assist the women in seeking a second chance.
The Women Lifers Resume Project supports all of the 200 plus women in Pennsylvania who are serving a life without parole sentence (LWOP). Resumes featured on this site are of a voluntary nature and should not be perceived as the only women we support for release. Some women have elected not to participate at this time.
IN THE NEWS
Gov. Wolf Announces Departure Of Corrections Secretary Wetzel, Names George Little As Acting Corrections Secretary
09/13/2021
Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf announced today his intention to name George Little to serve as Acting Secretary of the Department of Corrections (DOC). Little will replace outgoing Corrections Secretary John Wetzel, who is leaving to enter the private sector.
"George Little has extensive leadership experience in the public sector, with a focus on public safety, including five years in leadership positions at the Department of Corrections," Gov. Wolf said. "The Department of Corrections continues to evolve and modernize rehabilitation and education efforts to reduce recidivism while implementing appropriate strategies to enhance public safety. George Little understands this deeply and will serve this position well."
Little currently serves as the Executive Deputy Secretary of Community Corrections and Reentry at the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections since September of 2017, where he is responsible for leading community corrections, parole and probation field supervision services, and parole re-entry operations. Prior to that, he was DOC's Director of Community Corrections since 2016.
A Pennsylvania native, Little previously served the state of Tennessee in various capacities for 26 years. There he served as Regional Probation Director, Warden and Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Correction, as well as Director of the Shelby County Tennessee Division of Corrections. Between periods of corrections service, Little served as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Memphis. While serving there, he was responsible for oversight of the Memphis Police and Fire Departments, the Second Chance program and Workforce Development.
Little also serves on the Board of the National Police Foundation and is an associate member of the Association of State Correction Administrator.
Little has a bachelor of arts degree in economic and business administration from Morehouse College and completed a graduate study in economics, urban/regional development from the University of Texas.
Wetzel has served as Secretary since 2011 -- spanning two administrations -- and he has three decades of experience in corrections roles.
"Under John Wetzel's leadership, the Department of Corrections experienced the first reduction in the inmate population in decades – a testament to his commitment to rehabilitation and positive re-entry initiatives," Gov. Wolf said. "I am grateful for his dedication to public safety and for his service to our commonwealth, and I wish him the very best in his future endeavors."
Wetzel will depart on October 1 and Little will assume the role as Acting Secretary on October 2.
In major shift, Pa. panel votes to count incarcerated people in home districts, not state prisons
More than 37,000 people are currently incarcerated in Pennsylvania’s state prisons, and people of color are disproportionately impacted.
TIM TAI / Staff Photographer
by Sarah Anne Hughes Updated Aug 24, 2021
A Poetic Documentary Exploring Death & Life in Five Acts
A cinematic journey exploring the spiritual and corporeal identities of women facing life in prison in Pennsylvania. Rather than simply gazing in on these women that have been labeled violent offenders, the film creates an intimate portrait of their inner lives, perspectives, experiences, hopes, and dreams.
(buy it or own it)
Oct 12, 2007 (visiting SCI Cambridge Spring's past)
Inmate Visitation
Pennsylvania to start housing unvaccinated inmates together
August 05, 2021 at 7:03 pm EDT
By Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania prison system is stopping in-person visits for the thousands of inmates who are not vaccinated against COVID-19. The Corrections Department also said Thursday it will begin housing unvaccinated inmates together next week.
Corrections Secretary John Wetzel says the policy limits the contact that the unvaccinated have with potential carriers of the coronavirus.
The changes won’t affect inmates’ access to classes and programs. Additional terminals will be installed in the unvaccinated units for video visitation.
Nearly 8,000 inmates in state prisons are not vaccinated. That’s about one in five. The prison system provides vaccinations to all inmates who want one. It also requires everyone to wear masks indoors.
Who are we?
We are mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts. We are beloved family members
SCI Muncy
SCI Cambridge Springs
Photo Gallery of Participants
From SCI Muncy and SCI Cambridge Springs
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HEALTH REPORT
SCI-Muncy inmates reveal stories of medical neglect, high cancer rates
Muncy, Pa. -- “Shavonne had a great sense of humor. She really liked her friends. What you see is what you got with her. She was a straight shooter. She was well liked at Muncy,” said Ellen Melchiondo, a volunteer from the Pennsylvania Prison Society. She recently spoke about Shavonne Robbins, one of the many inmates she became acquainted with at the women’s State Correctional Institute – Muncy.
Robbins is one of the recent cancer deaths among women who served time at Muncy. She died on December 15, 2019 at the age of 43 after battling several years with a rare abdominal mucous cancer. Robbins, who was serving a life sentence, was at Muncy for 25 years before being released in 2017. READ MORE
Message from WLRP
Physical and Mental Health issues continue to be a concerning factor as women age behind prison walls. Are they getting the proper care needed to remain healthy? What type of physical and mental health issues do they face every day?
The women were asked if they would like to share some of their health issues in order to better inform the public about living life behind prison walls. Positive responses were received so, Health Report is now a new topic added on the resume'. The written resume' assessments of the women's health issues do not necessarily represent diagnosis made by the medical community but they do identify personal health conditions of which, through pain and uncertainty, the women continue to progressively work through in their quest for continuing education and living as active working participants within their prison community - as they continue to pray that one day, in the near future, they will be blessed with the opportunity to take their skills and knowledge to the outside communities.
Click on the photo to go directly to the resume' where the health report has been added
Terri Harper
Sylvia Boykin
Marie Rodriguez
Melony Ford
Nelda Beatty
Delores Rivers
LETTERS OF SUPPORT
Letters of Support from family members, loved ones and friends are very much welcomed and will also be included on the WLRP website.
If you wish to participate, there are some areas to consider when writing your letter:
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A description of your current relationship with the incarcerated person.
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The length of time you have been supporting this person.
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What affect this person's incarceration has had on you (e.g. emotionally, spiritually, financially, etc.).
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If this person is given the opportunity to be released, how will you be involved and what type of support will you offer her?