For women lifers in Pennsylvania, it is nearly impossible to get out of prison. The process of having their sentence commuted is long, political and requires unanimous approval by the Board of Pardons. Only 17 women serving life in Pennsylvania had been granted commutation in the last half-century. Naomi Blount-Wilson, a former lifer at State Correctional Institution Muncy, had her sentence commuted in 2019. She initially used her time to reconnect with her son and sing professionally. Then, she learned she had cancer. For inmates unsuccessful at seeking commutation, their other choice is compassionate release, intended for terminally ill inmates with less than a year to live. Theresa Battles received compassionate release in 2017 after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Advocates say the limited options for release make the reality of a life sentence “death by incarceration.”

Dying on the Inside: Women Lifers at Muncy Prison is a production of Create. Genius. Media and Temple University's Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting. Presented by WHYY

Follow us on social media for info about events, issues around mass incarceration and history @dyingontheinsidepodcast Check out our stories on WHYY.

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Sheena King, 52, was terrified of dying alone and afraid inside the prison infirmary at State Correctional Muncy. She became a prison hospice volunteer, comforting and helping women in their final stage of life, in hope the same would eventually be done for her. During her 33 years at Muncy, Sheena has dedicated her life to being the support she wishes she’d had before she committed murder at 18 years old. Sheena discusses healing from a lifetime of trauma while serving a life without parole sentence, working in prison hospice, and her new book “Submerged,” a memoir to help others on their own healing journeys inspired by her experiences. At an event for her book launch, recordings of Sheena reading from her book played, and her daughter Keeva King spoke alongside attorney Rupalee Rashatwar about her mother’s condition in prison.

Dying on the Inside: Women Lifers at Muncy Prison is a production of Create. Genius. Media and Temple University's Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting. Presented by WHYY

Follow us on social media for info about events, issues around mass incarceration and history @dyingontheinsidepodcast Check out our stories on WHYY.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cherri Gregg talks to lifers at State Correctional Institution Muncy about the challenges of staying healthy in prison. People like Terri Harper, who has served 35 years, feel like their concerns aren’t taken seriously by the medical system. Terri has had seven surgeries in the last 15 years and has had to wait for long stretches to get the care she’s needed.

Nutrition is also a challenge in prison. There’s a black market for vegetables, and many inmates have to buy from the commissary to get enough to eat. These conditions and lack of preventative care results in many inmates being diagnosed with diseases like cancer at late stages and requiring advanced care. About a quarter of deaths at Muncy between 2000 and 2025 were due to cancer, slightly higher than the national average.

All of this is resulting in more costs being borne by taxpayers. Even though Pennsylvania's prison population has gone down since 2002, the state’s annual healthcare costs have more than doubled, now exceeding $366 million a year.

Dying on the Inside: Women Lifers at Muncy Prison is a production of Create. Genius. Media and Temple University's Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting. Presented by WHYY

Follow us on social media for info about events, issues around mass incarceration and history @dyingontheinsidepodcast Check out our stories on WHYY.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.