Dear John,
Earlier this month, a group of young lawmakers gathered with one purpose: to see what it looks like when criminal justice reform moves from theory to practice.
As part of their Criminal Justice Innovation Fellowship, these young lawmakers spent two days in the Greater Philadelphia area — a region at the forefront of bold reforms in rehabilitation and reentry. |
At the center of their journey was the Scandinavian Prison Project, a groundbreaking unit inside the State Correctional Institution Chester — known as Little Scandinavia. Modeled after prison systems in Sweden and Norway and led by researchers from Drexel University and the University of Oslo, the project reimagines incarceration in America — not through punishment, but through dignity, trust, and rehabilitation.
Walking through the facility, Fellows experienced cells designed for individual dwelling and autonomy, communal spaces that foster responsibility, and a staff-to-resident model that prioritizes rehabilitation and reentry. They met the correctional officers and researchers documenting the project's impact on prison climate, officer well-being, and long-term reintegration and recidivism. |
Beyond the walls of Little Scandinavia, Fellows heard directly from law enforcement and corrections officials, like Chester Chief of Police Bill Mossman and former Secretary of Corrections John Wetzel. Advocates from the Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project (YSRP), Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), and impacted community members led discussions on accountability, second chances, and what it takes to shift a system in crisis.
For lawmakers, this wasn’t just a site visit — it was a reminder that policy has the power to transform lives. By grounding their work in evidence and collaboration, these Fellows return to their statehouses ready to confront one of the toughest issues facing their communities: how to build a justice system that delivers both safety and hope. |
Following the experience, Reed Howard, our Chief Strategy & Public Affairs Officer, was invited to speak with the Council on Criminal Justice. At their latest Board of Trustees meeting, he shared with members the work being done across the United States by Gen Z and millennial state legislators to reform the criminal justice system and how the Innovation Lab is helping them do so through our network of experts and resources. Onwards, Future Caucus |
