Advertise on podcast: Pracademically Speaking

Rating

★★★★★

from

5 reviews

Description

Pracademically Speaking is a podcast intended to highlight research and innovations within the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PA DOC). Episodes include interviews with national experts and PA DOC staff members who are leading the way in cutting edge developments. A primary goal of the podcast is to bring together thought leaders (academics, practitioners, and policymakers) to stimulate further thinking about how to solve real world problems within the field of corrections. Pracademically Speaking is produced by the PA DOC’s Bureau of Planning, Research & Statistics (PRS). The mission of PRS is to evaluate programs, policies, and practices, produce statistical reports, support data needs, clearly communicate research, and foster innovation, with excellence and objectivity, to advance agency goals through data-driven, scientifically informed decision-making. Their motto is “Pracademic Excellence!”

Unlock Pracademically Speaking podcast Email contact info,
Listeners & Audience details

Email contact information

Direct podcast contact details

Listeners

Audience numbers & engagement insights

Audience details

Podcast Insights

Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from Pracademically Speaking podcast

Episode 24: Future of AI in Corrections (w/ AI bot as guest)

2026/10/05

What happens when we interview AI itself about the future of AI in corrections? For the first time on the podcast, our guest isn’t human. Meet Dr. PracaBot, an AI bot with an honorary doctorate and plenty of opinions, for a completely unscripted conversation about how artificial intelligence could transform corrections—from prison safety and recidivism … Continue reading "Episode 24: Future of AI in Corrections (w/ AI bot as guest)"

Episode 23: Justice Reinvestment program outcomes (Dr. Matt Kleiman)

2026/06/24

What happens after lawmakers pass criminal justice reform? Eventually, somebody has to ask: Did it actually work? In this episode, Bret Bucklen and Matt Kleiman (Executive Director of the PA Commission on Sentencing) discuss two major evaluations required under Pennsylvania’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative 2 (JRI2)—Short Sentence Parole and the State Drug Treatment Program—and what the … Continue reading "Episode 23: Justice Reinvestment program outcomes (Dr. Matt Kleiman)"

Episode 22: Little Scandinavia (Dr. Jordan Hyatt)

2026/04/30

What happens when a Pennsylvania prison unit is built around dignity, normalization, and human-centered design—and then tested with real science? Recorded onsite inside SCI Chester’s nationally recognized “Little Scandinavia” unit, this episode features Dr. Jordan Hyatt (Drexel University) sharing the philosophy behind the model and early results from a randomized controlled trial on violence, misconducts, … Continue reading "Episode 22: Little Scandinavia (Dr. Jordan Hyatt)"

Episode 21: PA DOC Strategic Plan (Randee Brant)

2026/03/23

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections recently developed a new five-year strategic plan – a roadmap for becoming a more intentional, data-driven organization. This episode features a discussion with Randee Brant (Chief of Staff for the PA DOC) about why the department chose this moment to develop a strategic plan, how the goals and measures were built, … Continue reading "Episode 21: PA DOC Strategic Plan (Randee Brant)"

Episode 20: Evaluation of In-Prison College Courses (Dr. Sarah Tahamont)

2026/03/04

Results are in from the most rigorous evaluation to date of Pell-funded college programs in prison. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Tahamont (University of Maryland) joins Pracademically Speaking to unpack findings from Pennsylvania’s randomized controlled trial of Second Chance Pell—and what the evidence really says about recidivism, employment, and the limits of impact at scale.

Episode 19: Evidence-Based Corrections Policy

2026/02/02

In this episode, Dr. Bucklen discusses what it means for a program, policy, or practice in corrections to be “evidence-based.” This label gets applied frequently to all sorts of programs, policies, and practices in corrections but less examined is the strength and quality of the evidence. Dr. Bucklen also discusses cost-benefit analysis, and why effectiveness … Continue reading "Episode 19: Evidence-Based Corrections Policy"

Episode 18: Personal Growth Program Evaluation (Amber Petkus)

2025/11/05

In this episode, we discuss a recently completed evaluation of the Personal Growth program for technical parole violators. The guest on the show is Dr. Amber Petkus, joint post-doctoral fellow with Penn State University and the PA Department of Corrections. We also talk with Dr. Petkus about her experience as a post-doc at the PA … Continue reading "Episode 18: Personal Growth Program Evaluation (Amber Petkus)"

Episode 17: PADOC Evaluations of TCs, SIP-HOPE, and Residential Relocation

2025/09/05

In this episode we revisit three previously conducted evaluations by the PA Department of Corrections: 1) Therapeutic Communities (TCs); 2) the SIP-HOPE pilot program; and 3) a residential relocation pilot program. These evaluations highlight the use of multiple rigorous evaluation methodologies (randomized controlled trial, regression discontinuity, and propensity score matching) for attempting to understand the … Continue reading "Episode 17: PADOC Evaluations of TCs, SIP-HOPE, and Residential Relocation"

Episode 16: Staff Wellness (Kayla Franklin)

2025/06/09

Staff wellness is an under-appreciated component of corrections historically. The field is just now starting to pay more careful attention to this important topic, but how do we measure the effectiveness of staff wellness initiatives? Outcomes in this area tend to be a bit more squishy than say recidivism rates or in-prison assault rates. In … Continue reading "Episode 16: Staff Wellness (Kayla Franklin)"

Episode 15: Cost-Benefit Analysis of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

2025/04/24

In this episode, Dr. Bret Bucklen discusses a new report released by his team this month, which is a cost-benefit analysis of the use of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). The study compares the benefit-to-cost ratio for four different types of MATs that are currently used by the PA Department of Corrections: Revia, Vivitrol, Suboxone, and Sublocade. … Continue reading "Episode 15: Cost-Benefit Analysis of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)"

Episode 14: The Recidivism & Desistance Initiative (RDI) (Dr. Lucas Malishchak)

2025/03/19

This episode features a conversation between Dr. Bret Bucklen (Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics) and Dr. Lucas Malishchak (Deputy Secretary of Reentry) on the PA DOC’s brand-new Recidivism & Desistance Initiative (RDI). This initiative was introduced in January 2025 to provide quantifiable public safety goals for the agency and to measure progress towards those goals. It … Continue reading "Episode 14: The Recidivism & Desistance Initiative (RDI) (Dr. Lucas Malishchak)"

Episode 13: Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) (w/ Jim Stover)

2025/01/30

This episode is a conversation between Dr. Bret Bucklen and Jim Stover (JRI Coordinator for the PA Department of Corrections) on the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI). We discuss what exactly JRI is, and also the history and impact of JRI efforts in Pennsylvania.

Episode 12: Year-End Review of Research

2024/12/17

In this year-end episode, Dr. Bret Bucklen and producer Jeff Coleman sit down to review and discuss some of the research and evaluation accomplishments at the PA Department of Corrections during 2024. They discuss results from studies on topics such as inmate visitation, Intensive Parole Supervision caseloads, reentry relocation, and the in-prison Violence Reduction Initiative. … Continue reading "Episode 12: Year-End Review of Research"

Episode 11: Prison Violence (Bill Nicklow)

2024/11/20

In this episode we speak with Bill Nicklow, deputy superintendent for facility security and special operations at the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Bill talks with us about the practical side of efforts to reduce prison violence. He also shares highlights of his long and interesting career in the department. Bill provides context to the prison … Continue reading "Episode 11: Prison Violence (Bill Nicklow)"

Episode 10: Prison Violence (Dr. Nancy Rodriguez)

2024/11/04

In this episode we speak with Dr. Nancy Rodriguez from the University of California-Irvine about a multi-state project that she and several of her colleagues have been conducting for the past five years to examine the causes and consequences of prison violence. As this project is now coming to a close, Dr. Rodriguez shares with … Continue reading "Episode 10: Prison Violence (Dr. Nancy Rodriguez)"

Podcast reviews

Read Pracademically Speaking podcast reviews

5 out of 5

5 reviews

★★★★★

qweryuiinvx112345668 2024/06/03

Great podcast

One of the greatest podcasts I have ever seen. The three P’s really stuck with me. The way information just flowed was crazy. I felt like I understood...

check all reviews on apple podcasts