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Our vision: A federal carceral system that
is oriented toward rehabilitation
and operates with accountability
to its residents, their family members
and the broader justice community.

Advocacy and accountability
through education

Supporting incarcerated people and the federal justice community

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“The corrections system is one of the most overlooked, misunderstood institutions we have in our entire government…We have no interest in corrections. Nobody looks at it."
- Justice Anthony Kennedy

Halden Prison, Norway

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, U.S.

Lawyers/
Defenders

Judges

Families

Advocates/
Academics

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Services We Provide

The core operating principle of the Prison Education and Reform Alliance (PERA) is that the most effective first line of response to both shortcomings in care and abuses of authority is to work with the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in a non-adversarial manner, leveraging its own policies and procedures to bring about change.

Education

By offering interactive learning opportunities that facilitate a nuanced understanding of what makes the BOP "tick" and how to leverage the agency's own policies, we help improve outcomes and institutional experiences.

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Case Management

Our team of former "insiders" helps incarcerated people and their families navigate the nuances of the federal prison system, by defining realistic goals and, if possible, achieving them in a non-adversarial way. 

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Resources

Our “treasure chest” of curated and unique content, including FOIA documents, expands the understanding of the broader justice community of how the BOP operates and can be influenced.

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Halden Prison

Halden prison in Norway is frequently visited by U.S. officials and advocates because it is considered a carceral environment with a treatment focus and humane conditions. It is one of Norway’s largest prisons and  its residents include those with high-security classifications. It offers higher education and emphasizes interdisciplinary cooperation.

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary

Alcatraz Federal penitentiary, also known simply as The Rock, was a maximum-security federal prison on an island off the coast of San Francisco. Alcatraz typifies U.S. draconian correctional practices that emphasize incapacitation over rehabilitation. PERA believes that a greater prioritization of positive incentives and a treatment focus would create safer, more productive facilities.   

Defenders

Federal defenders are the “rock stars” of the legal community. We are proud to support their work, resulting in better outcomes for their clients. These testimonials illustrate the effectiveness of our training and education.

"I just wanted to follow up and let you know that Mr. Clark’s anticipated release date was adjusted from 8/31/2026 to 8/13/2025, based on your help and guidance!"
Assistant Federal Public Defender
District of Maryland – Greenbelt
“I'm writing with great news: We won Mr. Tolliver’s IRAA [Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act] motion, and he is coming home.
Thank you so much for all of your help on this case;
you were an integral part of this team!"
“We learned on Friday afternoon that the prosecution will not be opposing Mark’s IRAA motion and agrees that his sentence should be time served!
We greatly appreciate your help and could not have done it without you."
"I heard the New Jersey presentation was great. You are very much appreciated in the defender community and, once again, I want to thank you for taking calls from CJA counsel. So helpful. "
Defender Services Office, Training Division
Administrative Office of the United States Courts

Judges

PERA staff have conducted several training sessions for judges from coast to coast. Federal judges are extremely inquisitive about prison issues and we provide practical information and context so the realities and impact of a sentence are better understood, resulting in more fair sentencing decisions. 

“I can't thank you enough for the time you spent with our court yesterday. I learned a ton and I think everyone present did, too. You opened our eyes to important issues that affect the service of criminal sentences. I would very much like to get you back to Connecticut for a larger session with federal defenders, CJA lawyers, the U.S. attorney's office, all of probation, and whatever judges/clerks are interested. I think everyone would benefit from your expertise.”
“Thank you so much for your thoughtful and informative email! I got a bunch of comments following my op-ed piece, but few were as packed with good information as yours. I learned a lot reading it. I was interested to hear about your CLE. I wonder whether you might be interested in repeating it in NY or CT. I think it could be quite valuable, and I have some bar association contacts that might facilitate a repeat."
"Thank you so much. BTW, I would like to coordinate a program with you in the future. Yesterday, I spoke to our first assistant federal public defender, who spoke very highly of you. It seems I am late coming to the realization that you are a wonderful resource for our judicial system.”
“The corrections system is one of the most overlooked, misunderstood institutions we have in our entire government … We have no interest in corrections. Nobody looks at it.”
Justice Anthony Kennedy
"I can't thank you enough for the time you spent with our court yesterday. I learned a ton. You opened our eyes to important issues that affect the service of criminal sentences."
"Thank you so much for your thoughtful and informative email! I got a bunch of comments following my op-ed, but few were as packed with good information as yours. I was interested to hear about your CLE. I wonder whether you might be interested in repeating it in NY or CT. I think it could be quite valuable, and I have some bar association contacts that might facilitate a repeat."

Families

One of the most satisfying aspects of advocacy is helping families advocate for their loved ones. PERA provides information on BOP policy and who to contact and how. Family members are often exploited via direct marketing and slick PR that encourage unrealistic expectations. Spouses, parents and children can be tenacious advocates if they know BOP policy and process, along with what is achievable.  

"All of this is amazing info. I can’t tell you what your support means to us. It’s nice to have good lawyers, but your support gives us emotional comfort and that’s invaluable. Your organization is awesome."
Parent
“I wanted to let you know that yesterday Din finally got help. He said to thank you so much! He believes wholeheartedly that if we didn't have someone from the outside reach in, he still would not have seen anyone [for his medical issue]. The sad thing is he told me a lot of the COs [correctional officers] seemed to actually want to help but were there could be no sick calls during lockup.”
Parent
“I just wanted to wish you a wonderful holiday. I'm going to go see Chris tomorrow in Edgefield, South Carolina. He is so much happier at the FCI (medium-security prison) than he was in Beaumont (high-security). I have you to thank for that. You'll never know what this means for us. Here's a picture of the two of us the last time I went to see him.”
"I’d like to thank you not just for your advice, which was helpful and practical, but more importantly for the confidence and strength you gave me before my incarceration. It stood me in good stead and I remembered you many times during the next months."
Adult in Custody

Advocates/Academics/Media

NGOs and academics studying federal justice issues need accurate information and advice, not only on BOP policy, but also on how those policies are implemented. We collectively have over 100 years experience in all aspects of federal prison policy implementation. Our library of historical archives also is unique and helpful. And for the media, this means helping to ensure their reporting is accurate and includes the perspectives of both staff and prisoners.

“Thank you for sending this very useful document. I’ve read it in its entirety, and we will be using it to inform our positions on BOP oversight and reform."
ACLU National Prison Project
“I can't resist interrupting your vacation to let you know that we just completed two days of videotaping inside a federal prison. It still seems amazing to say those words, but yes, inside a federal prison. And that's thanks largely to you. You gave us the playbook and supplied us with the institutional knowledge we needed to make sure we conveyed our request in the most effective and convincing way possible. And it worked! Astounding.”
CNBC Business News Senior Producer
"I wanted to send along the article on PATTERN we spoke about last week. Thanks again for all your help with the piece—our conversation and one of the documents you sent me were crucial to understanding what exactly was going on at BOP. "
JournalistProPublica

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