Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project

“There are no committees that have the authority to act on behalf of the governing body.”

“The executive director of pilp sends the draft 990 to all board members in advance of their meeting in october, subsequent to the fiscal year-end . The board approves the draft.”

“The executive director works with all board members on a regular basis and the issue of potential conflicts is discussed.”

“The governing documents and financial statements are made available upon request.”

“From june 2019 to july 2020, the main significant program services undertaken that were not listed in the prior year's 990 relate to the transition or programs to remote operations due to covid-19. Every effort was made to maintain continuity of services to pilp's clients, and to maintain communication through legal mail and legal calls with incarcerated clients. As of march 17, 2020, all 3 of pilp's offices (philadelphia, lewisburg, and pittsburgh) had employees working remotely. Pilp developed a plan to have limited necessary staff in the offices, in order to maintain necessary operations, and as a member agency of the pennsylvania legal aid network, was also granted a waiver to maintain certain physical business operations. Therefore, throughout covid-19, pilp has continued to represent individuals in court proceedings (that had not been stopped due to covid-19), and provide legal advice and assistance. Furthermore, pilp launched a new focus seeking to mitigate the spread of covid-19 in prisons, and ensuring humane conditions during the pandemic. Pilp has actively monitored and investigated conditions in federal, state, and county prisons and jails throughout pennsylvania, and advocated for the health and safety of thousands or prisoners. As examples, pilp has sent advocacy letters to at least ten (10) prisons expressing concerns over the lack of protections from covid-19 and inhumane living conditions. Pilp received numerous reports that certain prisons were failing to provide cleaning supplies, soap, masks, adequate social distancing, or medically separating individuals when they exhibited symptoms and testing for covid-19. Numerous prisons also instituted severe lockdowns, which exacerbated mental and medical health conditions, prevented people from showering or making phone calls, and limited or stopped access to necessary services such as ongoing medical care for other conditions and access to their attorneys. Pilp engaged in discussions with at least 3 county prisons in encouraging them to utilize science-based practices to protect incarcerated individuals. Pilp also advocated on behalf of several individuals. For example, pilp successfully advocated on behalf of a man held in federal prison seeking religious accommodations during ramadan so that he could take his medications during religiously appropriate times, where the scheduling has been made more difficult due to covid-19 operations at the prison. Pilp also advocated for an individual who attempted suicide in county jail, where his mental illness was exacerbated during the lockdown conditions due to covid-19, and obtained additional recreation time, the ability to call his family during regular hours, and greater access to mental health care. Certain situations have necessitated litigation, and pilp has filed two class actions lawsuits relating to covid-19 and prisons. On april 7, 2020, pilp filed graham v. Allegheny county jail (in partnership with aclu-pa, abolitionist law center, and dechert llp) because while the county decreased the jail population, allegheny county jail consolidated all individuals into closer living quarters, failed to separate medically vulnerable incarcerated people, and otherwise did not provide protections against covid-19. Pilp has since reached a settlement on a preliminary injunction and continues to litigate the case. On april 20, 2020, pilp filed remick v. City of philadelphia, 20 civ. 1959 (e.d. Pa) against the philadelphia department of prisons (in partnership with kairys, rudovsky, messing and feinberg, aclu-pa, and dechert llp). Philadelphia prisons similarly had massive failures in addressing the covid-19 crisis, including not providing even the basics of soap, cleaning supplies. The philadelphia prisons instituted severely restrictive lockdowns, where people were locked in small calls for days on end without the ability to shower or call their attorneys, friends, or family. Pilp has reached a partial settlement, and continu”

“Contracted services: program service expenses 217,818. Management and general expenses 51,152. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 268,970.”

“The process has not changed from the prior year.”