FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 215-564-4775, media@prisonsociety.org
PITTSBURGH - The Pennsylvania Prison Society announced today that it has hired former Allegheny County Public Defender Matt Dugan as its first Western Pennsylvania region director. Dugan served in the county public defender’s office from 2007–2023, rising to chief public defender, before running for district attorney in 2023.
Founded in 1787 in Philadelphia, the Prison Society acts as a monitor and mediator for Pennsylvania’s prisons and jails, advocating for the health, safety and dignity of people in custody. It is the only organization in the commonwealth with the legal authority to enter any prison or jail at any time.
Over the past five years, the Prison Society has been increasing its work in Western Pennsylvania by starting mentoring programs in area prisons and growing its network of volunteers monitoring prison conditions. Dugan will be the organization’s first director based in Pittsburgh.
“We are excited that Matt is joining our team,” said Claire Shubik-Richards, executive director of the Prison Society. “Matt is a strategic thinker and a well-connected collaborator with a deep understanding of the realities of Pennsylvania prisons and jails. He has an intricate knowledge of our criminal legal system. We could not have envisioned a better, more compassionate, and knowledgeable leader to expand our impact in Western Pennsylvania.”
Western Pennsylvania, as a region, has more people in prisons and jails than any other region in the state; over 23,000 people are currently incarcerated in the area.
As the Pittsburgh director, Dugan will be responsible for growing the organization’s presence in the region; building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including volunteers, corrections administrators, and elected officials; and providing an expert voice on prison issues in Western Pennsylvania.
“My work has consistently focused on upstream solutions—reducing unnecessary system involvement, addressing structural barriers, and supporting programming that strengthens human connection and successful reentry,” Dugan said. “That perspective closely aligns with the Prison Society’s mission. Few organizations combine direct engagement with incarcerated people, meaningful in-facility programming, and systemic advocacy in such a thoughtful and credible way. I’m excited to get started.”
More information about the Pennsylvania Prison Society is available at prisonsociety.org.