Law Professor Speaks to Camp Hill Inmates

Thomas M. Place spoke at SCI Camp Hill Jan. 24 to more than 100 general population inmates. A packet of information was provided to each inmate who attended about the Post-Conviction Relief Act. A question-and-answer period was provided after the 60-minute lecture. During the lecture, Place educated the inmates on options they may have on appealing or overturning their sentences as well as the limitations the law allows for these appeals and the time frames with which they have to act. Several support staff members, who work with these inmates, were also in attendance.

Place is the William Trickett Faculty Scholar and Professor of Law at Penn State Dickinson School of Law where he teaches courses on criminal procedure, constitutional law, free speech and post-conviction remedies. He is the author of The Post-Conviction Relief Act: Practice and Procedure (11th ed. 2018). Once he earned his juris doctorate and worked as a public interest attorney, he became director of the law school's prison clinic and worked pro-bono. This very background piqued his interest in post-conviction remedies and helped provide legal advice and representation to those in the community who were underserved by the legal profession. He serves as a federal court mediator and regularly speaks to lawyers and judges on criminal procedure and constitutional law issues. His passion and knowledge of post-conviction relief led him to write over a dozen publications over the past 17 years.