In the Quaker tradition, this man helps volunteers connect with prisoners
Steve Gotzler, executive director of Prisoner Visitation and Support, knows firsthand the benefits of visitors for prisoners, having served time himself.
David Karas
Philadelphia
In the 19 years and seven months that Jim Marren spent behind bars following a conviction for marijuana distribution, he was shuffled from one federal penitentiary to another.
But for much of the time, one thing was consistent for Mr. Marren: He received regular visits from volunteers with the nonprofit Prisoner Visitation and Support (PVS). He recalls visitors Joe and Gene, among others, and their conversations about everything from books and music to current events and daily routines.
鈥淚 looked at these visitors as people who I could depend upon to give me a true view of the outside world,鈥� Marren says. 鈥淭hey allowed me to feel as if I was a part of the outside world. They shared everything 鈥� family, highs and lows.鈥�
Why We Wrote This
When prisoners have visitors, they may be better prepared to reenter society. Steve Gotzler leads the nonprofit Prisoner Visitation and Support in its mission to reach out to prisoners with respect.
Marren is one of countless thousands who have had a listening ear behind bars because of the Philadelphia-based PVS, which is marking a half-century of service. The nonprofit manages a force of volunteers scattered across the United States and provides regular visits to at least 2,000 inmates a month across 122 federal institutions and six military prisons.
鈥淭he purpose is to visit people in prison who are having a terrible time,鈥� says聽PVS's executive director, Steve Gotzler. 鈥淲e have no interest [in] whether they are guilty or innocent or anything like that 鈥� just to treat them like humans.鈥�
From the Vietnam War era
The nonprofit was founded in 1968 to continue a Quaker tradition of caring for prisoners. It began with the mission of visiting conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War, but organizers realized the service could benefit a broader population. The Federal Bureau of Prisons granted the organization access to all federal institutions in 1972, and the Department of Defense did the same in 1975 for military prisons. According to the nonprofit, it remains the only interfaith, volunteer visitation program with access to all these facilities.
The organization鈥檚 priority is to visit prisoners who don鈥檛 usually receive visits from family and friends, as well as those who are in solitary confinement, on death row, or serving long sentences. The objective behind the visits is to give inmates regular contact from the outside world both to help them cope with prison life and to prepare them for successful reentry.
鈥淢ost people are going to get back out of prison someday,鈥� Mr. Gotzler says. 鈥淭he more connection they have to the outside world before they get out, the more likely it is that they are going to be useful when they get out, and not reoffend and be a burden on society.鈥�
Like Marren, Gotzler served time in federal prison, after a felony conviction for nonviolent drug and conspiracy charges. He spent about seven years behind bars, during which he earned a degree from the University of Wisconsin and taught GED classes 鈥� something he still does.
Gotzler was unexpectedly paroled in his early 40s, and he found himself searching for a successful reentry. He was encouraged by two fellow inmates 鈥� a lawyer and a former judge 鈥� to consider law school, and within three weeks of his release, he began attending law school at Rutgers University in Newark, N.J.
While in school, he joined the National Lawyers Guild and was at one point a national officer. He also helped in the early stages of The November Coalition, an organization of inmates and families lobbying to change the nation鈥檚 drug laws.
He later worked for the Public Interest Law Center and then for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He next moved to the Pennsylvania Prison Society, where he designed and launched a successful mentoring program for men nearing release from state prisons. After a few years there, he took his leadership role with PVS about a year ago.
In a recent interview at the nonprofit鈥檚 office, Gotzler spoke about the importance of inmates receiving visitors.
鈥淧rison life is a very strange place. It is extremely regimented; it is cold and isolating,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he visit connects them to the greater sea of humanity. They are running across normal everyday people who have jobs, drive cars, [and] have problems.鈥�
He also notes the modeling that can result when prisoners see how the visitors live their lives 鈥� which is important, he says, because many in prison didn鈥檛 have a normal upbringing.
Generally, each visit lasts for about an hour, and there is no set agenda or list of topics. A volunteer will keep visiting a prisoner as long as the inmate is at the same institution and wishes to continue, Gotzler says. But the relationship continues only during the prisoner鈥檚 stay at that institution.
In demand
Gotzler says there is no shortage of need among inmates for visitation, particularly in the federal system. Prisoners can be assigned to any institution without regard to where they are from, and the fact that most facilities are in rather remote locations makes it difficult for family and friends to stay in touch, especially considering the long length of many sentences.
For inmates who don鈥檛 receive many 鈥� or any 鈥� visitors, a PVS volunteer can make all the difference. And that鈥檚 why Gotzler says so many dedicated volunteers stick with the organization.
鈥淚t is amazingly fulfilling on an individual level. You can see the difference that you are making in somebody鈥檚 life,鈥� he says.
PVS has three staff members and some 500 volunteers who contribute one day a month to visiting prisoners. The nonprofit is highly selective in choosing volunteers and provides intensive training.
With an annual budget of just under $300,000, which comes from small donations from individuals as well as support from some faith groups, the organization is dependent upon its volunteers. Gotzler says additional staff will eventually be necessary to manage the network of visitors, especially given the waiting list of inmates and the ever-present need for more volunteers.
John Vanyur, who spent nine years on the nonprofit鈥檚 board, worked in the prison system, culminating as assistant director of correctional programs for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. His first exposure to PVS came when he was an associate warden, and he saw firsthand the benefits of visits.
鈥淧VS really provides a listening ear to [prisoners], and also a connection to the outside world. And a visitor 鈥� no matter where they are 鈥� [is] somebody who they can speak with and interact with,鈥� Mr. Vanyur says.
He cites research studies that have found lower recidivism rates among inmates who receive frequent visits while behind bars. 鈥淭here is actually some evidence that visiting has an impact on reentry,鈥� he says.
Beyond the 鈥渋nstant payoff鈥� for both visitors and prisoners, he adds, the program doesn鈥檛 cost anything to the prison system, another benefit in the eyes of prison administrators.
Since receiving visits from PVS volunteers during his time behind bars, Marren has remained engaged with the nonprofit, now serving on its board of directors. He says Gotzler has an 鈥渆xtremely good reputation鈥� and speaks highly of his qualifications to lead the organization.
鈥淪teve is an attorney and he understands the prison system,鈥� Marren says.
He also notes that Gotzler鈥檚 work with the Pennsylvania Prison Society, helping those reentering society find jobs and housing, appealed to the board. 鈥淚t has brought a synergy between the Prison Society and our organization,鈥� he adds.
鈥楢 natural mentor and leader鈥�
Mary Catherine Roper, deputy legal director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania, hired Gotzler in 2005, something she describes as 鈥渁 great decision.鈥�
鈥淗e is a natural mentor and leader,鈥� says Ms. Roper in an email interview. 鈥淥ver the nearly ten years that he worked with us, he inspired hundreds of young people and helped them figure out their life鈥檚 direction.鈥�
Roper isn鈥檛 surprised that Gotzler has spent his time after prison focusing on social justice, and she praises his work as a reentry mentor, which he does as part of a volunteer program he runs out of a state prison in Chester, Pa.
鈥淲hen he is helping someone, Steve has more patience and good humor than anyone else you could find. He is non-judgmental and believes that every person has a best side, and wants to bring that out,鈥� she says. 鈥淔or Steve, helping people is like breathing. I don鈥檛 think he could stop if he wanted to.鈥�
She adds, 鈥淗e has changed innumerable lives 鈥� helping people find their ambitions and pursue them.鈥�
Gotzler and his wife also serve as foster parents, frequently for children whose parents are incarcerated. They are currently fostering a girl whose mother is behind bars facing murder charges.
Not surprisingly, he easily finds the energy to further the work of PVS.
鈥淔rom my point of view, these are the people in the worst situation of their lives: They are broke and friendless, living a pretty rancid life,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f you can help, you should help. It just feels like the right thing to do.鈥�
鈥� For more, visit .
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