WHAT WE DO

Phronema Justice Strategies

PJS seeks to bring innovative technology to corrections systems to improve the health and lives of our staff and incarcerated people.

Those seeking to partner to bring disruptive innovation to corrections should contact Michaela Wetzel at michaela@phronemajusticestrategies.com for more information.

o  The first family-facing, high-quality mail scanning product in the corrections industry, Prison Mail Services is a global company that has fine-tuned existing mail scanning technologies to benefit incarcerated people and their families. Of all mail scanning operations in the field, Prison Mail Services is the first to be specifically designed with families of incarcerated loved ones in mind. Offering high-resolution scans of photographs in addition to text-based materials, Prison Mail Services was built by corrections professionals with first-hand knowledge of the positive influence of keeping families connected. 

  • MenuAmbition

    • Existing approaches to food services were never developed specific to a corrections population, for whom resources are often limited. Food service costs are one area where informed decision-making allows corrections administrators to make a big impact in stretching their agency’s budget and contributes to positive morale among an incarcerated population, which is a core function of security. MenuAmbition is a revolutionary technology that allows Food Services managers to modify and adjust menus alongside changes in the market, to diversify menus, and to maximize both nutrition and portion sizes. The intelligent menu-planning software enables corrections systems to optimize menus and menu planning in a way that is quick, easy, and can reduce food costs by up to 30%.

  • Optamo

    • While serving as Secretary of Corrections for Pennsylvania, John Wetzel recognized that PADOC was transporting approximately 900 incarcerated people per week, often on buses that were only half full. Through Optamo’s proprietary population management tool, PADOC was able to reduce the number of transports overall and to schedule them in full busloads, which minimized duplicative transport costs and increased the security and safety of staff and IPs. Additionally, Optamo’s team was able to evenly distribute the Department’s population of individuals aged 18 to 25, who research has shown generally presents a higher risk of violence and misconduct. As a result, PADOC witnessed a reduction in violence across the state. Beginning with an assessment and full-scale analysis of a system’s current population and operational needs, Optamo is able to streamline operations with high-level accuracy in a matter of seconds. 

Keystone Restituere Justice Center

KRJC (Keystone Justice) is a backbone organization that specializes in convening relevant stakeholders around public policy issues that relate to public safety, corrections, and drivers of incarceration. We utilize a research and data-driven approach, seeking to identify best practices and to create new and better practices, to achieve disruptive innovation and quantifiably improved outcomes. Our official launch is October 1, 2023. We are, however, currently partnering with organizations seeking to join our learning communities or to engage on projects where we can bring stakeholders together to measure and improve outcomes in a thoughtful and collaborative fashion. Our team brings to KRJC a breadth of experience in helping correctional, law enforcement, and social service agencies improve their outcomes — experience that utilized research, data and policy analysis; strong collaboration; an emphasis on creating greater operational efficiencies and eliminating deleterious and unnecessary practices; a sensitivity to victims of crime; and at all times a hyper-nonpartisan approach.

KRJC’s approach recognizes that the issues that affect public safety and drive incarceration can be meaningfully addressed, but that doing so requires our unique approach.  We do not believe in a formulaic or pre-determined set of recommendations, nor do believe that solutions are quick and easy. But we wholeheartedly believe that improvements and solutions can be achieved and, in fact, must be achieved if we are to significantly improve the outcomes that presently need improvement.  

Leaders seeking to get involved with KRJC or who are interested in becoming a learning community site can contact Madeline McPherson at madeline@phronemajusticestrategies.com for more information.

  • Learning Communities

    A participatory planning approach to system improvement, KRJC is spearheading the “learning community” model across areas of need in criminal justice. Learning communities identify and ensure that stakeholders have a voice in the solutions that benefit our systems: an embodiment of solutions that are “for the field, by the field.”  On a particular area of need, KRJC brings together a group of select sites where officials are on parallel paths to innovating and improving the way our systems function. Frequently, commonalities exist but the lack of connection frustrates the recognition of that.

    Learning community sites engage in strategic management and participatory planning with KRJC subject matter experts and engage in ongoing “peer” support with one another. The program is bolstered by research and evaluation and contributes to improved consistency across the field through evidence-based practices.

  • PA Correctional Staffing Learning Community

    • A majority of jails and prisons in America are understaffed.  Given the reality that staffing is the primary cost driver as well as key success factor for anything that occurs in a facility, we are seeking counties who wish to systematically assess the demand on their correctional system and compare that to the supply of staff and other resources necessary to achieve their objectives. We will then take you through a step-by-step process helping you accurately identify how many staff you need, while at the same time aiding your review of your daily operations. Additionally, given the fact that much of the demand on corrections systems are driven by factors OUTSIDE of corrections, we will engage with relevant stakeholders as defined by YOUR goals and establish a participatory process that increases the chances of success in the long-term.

  • PA Correctional Staff Optimization Learning Community

    • We are seeking 5-10 Pennsylvania counties to commit to building a correctional staff optimization/wellness program for their correctional staff. Led by a team of subject matter experts in strength & conditioning, nutrition, psychology, and applied defensive tactics, select counties in the PA Correctional Staff Optimization Learning Community will learn and adapt wellness strategies to their local jails. This initiative involves training staff how to make small-scale changes to their physical fitness, diet, sleep patterns, and interpersonal skills to improve overall health and well-being.

  • Applied Yield Theory Training & Technical Assistance

    • A nationally recognized expert in applied anger and emotional management strategies, culture change and management, and organizational management, Dr. Christian Conte has worked closely with corrections agencies like the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to train both staff and incarcerated people in how to communicate better and improve interpersonal relationships. Using principles of his proprietary Yield Theory, Dr. Conte’s work has transformed the way staff and incarcerated people interact with and understand each other. While contracted with PADOC, violence was measurably reduced across facilities through improvements in conflict resolution between staff and incarcerated people. KRJC works closely with Dr. Conte to integrate Yield Theory approaches into multiple areas of our work.

  • Leadership Coaching/Development & Strategic Planning

    • “The SEAT” is the loneliest place in the world.  Whether that seat is that of a warden or a director, very few have had the honor, privilege, and responsibility that comes with that seat. We seek leaders who both wish to develop their own leadership in the context of transforming their agency.  Our team has extensive experience in leading agencies through disruptive transformation, attaining measurable outcomes, and we look forward to helping you in your quest to do the same.

  • CJ System Assessment/Transformation

    • Jails and prisons are inherently connected to the broader criminal justice landscape and often provide the ideal starting point for system transformation. However, law enforcement practices and court system design also fundamentally impact corrections agencies since each entity works with the same population. As such, KRJC works with multidisciplinary subject matter experts to optimize various touchpoints across the criminal legal system to reduce strain on corrections systems by better addressing the needs of justice-involved people.