The Psychology of Incarcerated Individuals Advocacy Coalition
What is PIIAC?
PIIAC is a non-profit organization that works to improve the mental health of incarcerated individuals in order to increase rehabilitative efforts to decrease recidivism rates. PIIAC’s main work involves helping keep family and friends connected with incarcerated individuals as they do their time, as it has been proven that increased connection to loved ones better allows these individuals to prosper and rehabilitate into society once they have been released. Many people have heard the concept of prison and jail being “crime school,” and this tends to happen to individuals when they have no other communication outside discussing their criminal mistakes with others. When this happens, inmates tend to feel a loss of hope and turn back to crime once they are out. With increased support and contact to the outside world, they are able to be reminded by their families and friends that they have more to offer than the mistakes they have made.
Who does PIIAC help?
PIIAC helps non-violent criminals or other inmates who have shown positive signs towards rehabilitation, and we aid families and friends with funds to pay for the phone and video calls that become very costly. The incarceration system likes to make it as difficult as possible for incarcerated individuals to connect regularly with families, but it has been proven the more support and contact an individual has the less likely they are to fall back into the same behaviors once they are released. Most people in jail are given far worse punishment than what their crime equates to, and the system tries to make them feel like they are criminals and that is all they will amount to. PIIAC works to remind these individuals they are more than their mistakes, and that doing their time doesn’t need to mean they should be treated like animals. Additionally, PIIAC serves as advocates for inmates in the outside world while they are stuck on the inside.
Have a loved one incarcerated?
If you have a loved one incarcerated and would like to obtain help with funds to keep in contact, or you believe their rights are being infringed upon, please fill out this form to join our network and gain assistance. Your loved one’s time in their should be for reflection and opportunity to turn around, not to feel beaten to the ground.