STORIES
Pam Sedia
Pam is a mother who lost her son Jeffrey to an overdose which stemmed from the mental health and drug addiction challenges he faced as he cycled in and out of jail for technical violations while on probation. Jeffrey passed away at age 37 after being released during peak COVID—he was unable to access any mental health providers due to pandemic-related closures and ended up overdosing as a result of self-medication.
Pam, a professional trainer for nurses around the country, is advocating for reform by sharing Jeffrey’s story, the impact that his experiences had on their family, and the failures of the supervision system he was trapped in.
Megan Parke
Megan was sentenced to both parole and probation simultaneously, and has been assigned 5 different probation officers since 2019. Megan was given a technical violation because the corrections department mixed up her address—she has tried unsuccessfully for two years to get the violation off her record so she can file for early termination.
Megan is currently self-employed and hopes to go back to school to earn her degree.
Stories have the power to shape people’s beliefs and attitudes in a way facts alone cannot. They change public opinion, erase harmful stereotypes, and connect us to each other.
By sharing the stories of people who have been on supervision in Pennsylvania, we can show there are real human beings and families at the heart of this problem.
Help us advocate for these changes and more. Show your support by joining the Pennsylvania Safety Coalition today!