We are the unbiased source about what is happening behind Pennsylvania prison walls.
P E N N S Y LVA N I A P R I S O N S O C I E T Y 2019 Annual Report
“Philly jails release scores of inmates without returning their IDs, cash or phones.” THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, AUGUST 2019
“Delco Prison goes without air-conditioning during 100-degree heat waveatures.” DELCO DAILY TIMES, JULY 2019
“Breakfast is served to Dauphin County prisoners at 3:30 a.m. Lunch follows at 9:30 a.m. And supper is served at 2:30 p.m.” PENN LIVE PATRIOT NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2019
“For Pennsylvania, 2019 is on track to be the worst year in at least a generation for suicides in state prisons.” YORK DAILY RECORD, OCTOBER 2019
“I am writing to you because there are things being done to us that is wrong and I need your help.”
Together we are bringing light 2019 was a year of extraordinary gains—bringing light to the inside and the darkness on the inside to light. Your support enabled us to expose institutional cruelties and to step in and stop human suffering. We helped thousands of families stay connected. With our affiliates, we raised awareness and advocated for the end of life sentences and solitary confinement. We
of punishment. We couldn’t have done any of it without you. Thank you for
A N O N Y M O U S I N C A R C E R AT E D I N D I V I D U A L , 2 0 1 9
2019
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standing with us.
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inspired more people to show love above bars and put an end to the culture
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Our Mission
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PRISON
SOCIETY
To advocate for humane prisons and a rational approach to criminal justice.
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Letter from Executive Director There are times of catalytic change in history. May 1787 was one of those moments. May 8, 1787, just weeks away from the start of the Constitutional Convention, our nation’s founders established the Pennsylvania Prison Society out of the conviction, that “[t]he obligations of benevolence are not canceled by the follies or crimes of our fellow creatures.” That moment and their words still inspire us today. But this is a very different catalytic moment. Mass incarceration is the civil and human rights crisis of our time. In 1980, there were 16,000 Pennsylvanians living in state and county prisons. Today there are 76,000. That’s more than a 5-fold increase. Mass incarceration has meant that the way we do things as an organization is all out of proportion to the number of people on the inside. And so, we are modernizing and growing. This is a massive endeavor that is only possible thanks to the generosity and commitment of each Society supporter. Much as our founders were revolutionaries, creating a democracy, envisioning a restorative criminal justice system, so are you today. At our core, the Prison Society is just that, a Society, a group of people who have come together to form a community. A community dedicated to the proposition that all among us are entitled to a life of dignity and caring—regardless of commission of crime, mistakes, or poverty. A community that believes that the criminal justice system should restore hope and the possibility of a life of virtue and happiness, not dash hope and end lives. We are a community dedicated to extending compassion to those living behind prison walls because we know it benefits us all. I am honored to be connected to so much good—to collectively create so much impact. And I am excited beyond belief to see all that is still to come.
Executive Director
2019
CLAIRE SHUBIK-RICHARDS
ANNUAL
REPORT
With your support, our moment is now.
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Samuel Barlow, this year’s Pennsylvania Prison Society “Incarcerated Person of the Year”, was commuted in 2019 after serving 50 years behind bars. He accepted his award at Eastern State Penitentiary where he was the last death-row
PENNSYLVANIA
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inmate.
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“We have the unique ability to know people while they are incarcerated and when they come home.” — K I R S T I N CO R N N E L L , S OC I A L S E RV I C E S D I R E C TO R
How We Work Your support of the Prison Society helps us make Pennsylvania more just and humane. Together we: Stop the culture of punishment We shine a light on the dark world of prisons to eradicate abuse and inhumane treatment. Prison Society volunteers provide public witness to what happens behind prison walls. Written into Pennsylvania law, the Society has the unique ability to go into correctional facilities, meet with incarcerated people and provide real-time information on prison conditions. We are vital advocates for humane conditions and for human rights. Every month, more than 250 incarcerated people and their families ask Society volunteers for help with issues they face inside prison.
Care for those impacted by incarceration Hundreds of thousands of people return from prisons to Pennsylvania communities each year. We help make that difficult transition easier by providing critical social supports to people coming home and their families. We keep families together by providing subsidized transportation for loved ones with incarcerated family members hours away from home and by facilitating parenting classes for incarcerated fathers. Our mentoring program provides a stable, continuous connection that bridges life behind bars and life in the community.
Fight for reform, build understanding and awareness Mass incarceration is the civil and human rights challenge of our time. Many Pennsylvanians likely don’t know or care about this crisis, but they should. This ignorance is not necessarily willful, but rather due to limited access to the experiences of those behind prison walls. That’s where the Prison Society makes a difference. We reach people across the state and across the country with our message of justice and compassion for incarcerated individuals and their families through our website, social media platforms, publications, and events for concerned citizens.
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to change them.
2019
incarcerated individuals should be treated. Where our laws are flawed and outrageous, we fight
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We drive important conversation on prison conditions and frame the debate about how
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What We Do “The Prison Society has the ability to be the unbiased source of
SERVICES ●
Our responsive staff answers more than 250 calls, emails, and letters every week from incarcerated people and their families seeking help and/or information.
● Our
volunteers monitor prison conditions, providing outside
eyes and ears behind prison walls. They elevate issues to prison
truth. We are
officials, assist incarcerated people with self help, communicate
desperately
social connection to those cut off from family and friends.
needed. And we have so much more we need to do.” —JOSH ALVAREZ, Prison Monitoring Director
with concerned family members, and provide a much needed
● Our
transportation services keep families on the outside
connected to loved ones on the inside. Every month we send 10 buses across the state with over 2,400 riders annually.
PROGRAMS ● Our
mentors serve as a bridge between life behind bars and life
in the community. They help incarcerated participants prepare for life outside prison walls and provide ongoing support when mentees are reunited with their communities and face all of the new challenges that can bring. ● Our
fatherhood classes help fathers gain the critical skills and
emotional readiness needed to successfully reconnect with their
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PRISON
SOCIETY
families once they are released.
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PUBLICATIONS ● Graterfriends
is our publication for and by incarcerated people,
focusing on the issues that they care about. ● Beyond
Bars is a monthly digest of news regarding prison
conditions and gives an inside look at what’s going on at the Society.
Become a member to start receiving Graterfriends and Beyond Bars. Join online at www.prisonsociety.org
Top Victories for 2019 We sounded the alarm on the expansion of life sentences In Partnership with The Sentencing Project, we raised awareness of the expansion of life sentences in America and argued against such extreme punishments. In conjunction with Lifers Incorporated, the organization of people serving life sentences in Pennsylvania, we hosted a panel at the State House on the need for people serving life sentences to be eligible for parole board review.
We played a crucial role in getting the story out about outrageous discharge practices in Philadelphia jails After an investigative report by Pranshu Verma and the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Department of Prisons listened and has now committed to releasing people earlier in the day and with their belongings. Tom Innes, our Board President, was a key player in putting an end to the decades-long practice of the Philadelphia jail releasing people without their belongings.
We made sure lawmakers heard our message loud and clear Alongside allied organizations, we kicked off the legislative session by speaking with legislative leaders and senior staff about key criminal justice issues. We were featured at the first meeting of the bi-partisan caucus on criminal justice reform and testified before the Democratic Policy Committee.
We launched new partnerships that will help us tackle important criminal justice issues together Carnegie Mellon’s Center for Human Rights Sciences and Temple’s Klein College of Media partnered with us to provide research and media support that allows us to clearly and
We doubled our staffing capacity We’ve more than doubled our staff over the past year giving us more bandwidth to serve our community more effectively and to tackle the urgent issue of criminal justice reform.
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can do to ameliorate over-incarceration and inhumane conditions.
2019
the Vera Institute joined forces to help us engage county policy makers about what they
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powerfully show the impact of mass incarceration on Pennsylvania. Urban Rural Action, and
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Meet Joan
“I am involved with the Prison Society because it’s the right thing to do. It’s as simple as that.”
G
rowing old in prison involves fighting for
was able to reunite with her family and
health care from a system that is often
lived for almost a full year in the care of her
overtaxed and uncaring, or even worse, life-
children. The impact was profound—not just
threatening.
for Ellen—but for her once estranged family
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PRISON
SOCIETY
that was brought back together by the
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Joan Porter is a longtime member of the
experience. As much as it is about the dying
Prison Society Board of Directors and an
individual, compassionate release can also
active volunteer. She is a champion for a
bring great healing to family and community.
compassionate release, the Pennsylvania law that lets terminally ill incarcerated people die
Sadly, many who are terminally ill are unable
at home.
to successfully access the labyrinthine and lengthy compassionate release process.
With the assistance of legal counsel, Joan has
Through the gift of her time and dedication,
repeatedly aided families in navigating this
Joan has helped many elderly incarcerated
cumbersome process. Recently, Joan helped
people with life-threatening conditions
Ellen, an incarcerated woman with terminal
spend their last months and days at home.
cancer. After serving decades in prison, Ellen
Financial Report PROGRAM REVENUE (fatherhood, busses, mentoring)
$629,341
GRANTS
TOTAL REVENUE
$172,150
$957,533 INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS
$83,206 ENDOWMENT INVESTMENTS
$80,495 CORPORATE DONATIONS
$18,184 BEQUESTS
$15,793 OTHER
ANNUAL
—CHRIS COVINGTON, Treasurer
2019
As an organization, we have made great strides over the past few years in terms of financial stability. Our ability to expand our donor network while better utilizing state funding sources creates a bright future for the society and ensures our ability to continue the good work we do.”
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$13,454
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Donors The Prison Society accepts every gift with gratitude. We can’t do this without your steadfast support. With each contribution, you too have been a source of light and love on the dark world of prisons. *Donor listed have given $40 dollars or more.
Stephen Adetumbi
Gloria Ruszkiewicz Brown
John Early
Ellen Greenlee
Rumana Ahmad
Jessica Brown
William Griffin
David Akers
Joseph Bubman
Eastern State Pententiary Historic Site
Kasim Ali
Michael Buckley
America’s Charities
Annette Carter
Anita Andreasen
Lisa Carter
Alan Appel
Robin Casarjian
Nathan Armstead
David Caves
Gert Aron
Centre County Council for Human Services
Rackell Arum Barbara Auerbach Carol Austin
PENNSYLVANIA
PRISON
SOCIETY
Regina Austin
Pablo Cerdera Steven Chanenson
William Babcock
Chatterblast Media
The Baily Family Charitable Fund
Anjum Cheema Robert Cicchinelli
John Bair
Christopher Cimino
Irene Baird
Scott Clarke
Andrew Baker
Brie Coellner
Susan Barbella
Adrianne Cohen
Janis Barksdale
Anita Colon
Natalie Barndt
William Coneghen
Carl Barnett-Mayotte
Mary Conger
The Barra Foundation
Vincent Corrigan
Hon. Camera Bartolotta
Ruth Cosand
Kathy Barton
Kevin Courtright
Christina Bassler
Christopher Covington
Sarah Bastidas
Bonnie Cox
Erica Bates
Lauren Cristella
Peter Baumann
Mary Jo Daley
Troy & Debbie Beam
Dallas Lifers Association
Phyllis Beck
Marion Damick
Joan Behr
Marian Davenport
Kevin Bendesky
David Davis
Peter Benekos
Deep Run Mennonite Church East
Rod Binnion Russell Bishop Nancy Blood Joshua & Marissa Bluestein Michael Blume Alfred Blumstein Krista Boerman Rachel Bomysoad Charles Bradley Daniel Bradley Bright Funds Foundation Bruce Brown
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Centre Foundation
Caridad Delgado Melissa DePino Karren DeSeve H. William DeWeese Richard Dietrich Sharon Dietrich Dorothea DiGiovanni
Larry Eichel
Your Cause LLC Trustee for Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
Sally & Stewart Eisenberg
Debra Hager Bariki Hall
Brenda Emerick
Virginia Hammond
Janice Etchison
Andrea Harman
Walter & Nancy Everett
Holly Harner
Gordon Everett
Harrisburg Monthly Meeting
Susan Fagnani
Christine Harrity
Dennis Farally
Gladys Hart
James Farmer
Steven Hartz
Randi Faust
Peggy Hartzell
Nan Feyler
Haverford College
Fidelity Charitable Donor-Advised Fund
David Heaton
Ryan Fisher
Jasmine Heiss
Mary Eberly
Erica Freeman Fresh Pond Trust Elizabeth Fuller Richard Gabel John Gallery Ronald Garland Hank Garrett Joan Gauker Evan Gentry & Susan Wenger Brenda George
Dwayne Heckert Julie Heller Benjamin Herman Carl Herman Joseph Herman Julie Herman Tyson Herrold Rebecca Hillyer Larry Holdman Sylvia Horst
Mary Gergen
Lifers Association at SCI Huntingdon
Mark Germine
Drew Hyman
Rosemary Gido
IHOPE at SCI Benner Township
Matt Gingerich
Thomas Innes & Marsha Levick
Anne Glass
Kenneth & Karlyn Ippolito
Zoe Goldberg
Lenora Irwin
Joan & William Goldstein
Robert Jennings
Janet Goldwater
Paul Johnson
Jesse Golinkoff
Victoria Jones Long
Darrell Goodley
Justice & Mercy
Edmundo Grab
Sally Kalin
Elena Grab
Rumal Kaluarachchi
Phyllis Grady
Karlsberg Sakowitz Family Fund
Bernard Granor
Gregory Dober
Marshal & Tamar Granor
Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation
Sheldon Granor Grayfred Gray
Emily Dowdall
David Greenbaum
Paul Droesch
Ruth Greenberg
Harriet Kaylor Earl Kaylor, Jr. Mary Keane H. Mark Keintz Jane Keller
DONORS
Jonathan Rosen
Dana Kelley
David Miller
Lawrence Rosenberg
Justin Miller
Seymour Rosenbloom
Leeann Mills
Priscilla Rosenwald
Molly Mollick
Daniel & Barbara Rottenberg
Moran Family Fund
Carolyn Rudnitsky
Anna Morgan
John Rush
Andrew Mow
Carol Salacka
David Moyer
Salford Mennonite Church
Jolene Kopriva
The Hilda Mullen Donor Advised Fund
David Salinger
William Kovacs
Claire Munley
Vicki Kramer
Jennifer Murphy
Marianne Sawicki
Kurland Family Charitable Fund
Laurence Mutti
Darlene Kvaternik
Malik Neal
Joel Kelly Maryam Khojasteh Deborah Klehr Brian Klinger-Maxwell John Knapich Gregory Knight Susan Knox
Jane LaBonte Norman Lacasse Kenny Lam Janet & Joseph Landis Donna Lane
Jack Nagel Network For Good Lawrence Newberry Kathleen Noonan Northern Trust Charitable Giving Program
Robert and Holly Lankin Family Foundation
Lauren O’Leary
Lebanon Association of Penn Central Conference United Church of Christ
Jonathan Oldt
Nancy Lerner Stephen Levin Alison Lewis Felicia Lewis Carolyn Lidston William Lockard The Longacre Charitable Trust Angus Love Carol Love Chelsea Loveall Connie Mabin Shelley Malarkey Jacob Malikkal Jack Malinowski Joseph Manzi Leroy Mapp James Marshall Michael Marsilio
Marie O`Donnell Oppenheimer Foundation The Oxholm Family Fund Harry Oxman Theodore Passon Sherri Patchen Christine Paul Paypal Charitable Giving Fund Andrew Peifer Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project JoAnne Perri James Petersheim Walter Peterson Carol & Peter Petraitis Peggy Petrillo Joseph Piette Latanya Pigford Simeon Poles
Carolyn Sanford Cara Scharf Gustave Scheerbaum Michelle Schmitt Marilyn Schneider Judith Schwab Mark Schwartz Robert Schwartz Seer Interactive Elaine Selan Elif Sen Stephen Sept Emily Severson Dianna Shade Glenn Shaffer Lynn Sharrar Robert Shively Drs. Paul & Jane Shlueter Claire Shubik-Richards Earl Shutt Jane Siegel Barry Silver Joseph Silverman Nicole Simon Jon Singer Nicole Sloane Orlando Smith James Smith Judith Smitley Sarah Snider Mary Sollenberger
Joan Porter
Leonard Sosnov Nicole Spring
Roger Mast
Nancy R. Posel Irrevocable Trust
Sprocket Foundation
Hannah Matos
Jason Powers
Christina Matthias
Ingrid Prater
St. Peters Evangelical Lutheran Church
Gordon Maule
Barbara Pressman
Sheila Mayne
Joan Pritchard
Carole McCallum
Derecka Purnell
Michael McCaney
David Rapoport
Gayle McGill
John Rauch
Mary Jane McKenna
Matthew Ray
Andrew McKinnon
Jessica Raymond
Amy McLaughlin
Joan Reese
Clairissa McLaurin
SCI Retreat Community Development Organization
Linda & Vernon Martin
Mary McNichol Terence McPherson Nan McVaugh Irene Mehnert
David Richards Leonard Rieser Martina Risech Barbara Rittenhouse
Alexander Stadler State College Friends Meeting State College Presbyterian Church Debra Stavarski Jennifer Stevens
Boris & Andrea Striepen Matt Stroud Catherine Struve Phyllis Subin Summit Presbyterian Church Paul Swanger Virginia Sweeney John Swisher Kat Tarsaswarm Dennis Taylor Phyllis Taylor Paul Thanos Charles Thomas David Thornburgh Paul Titterton Claudia Tramer Dustin Trimm TriumpH Inmate Organization Emma Tuohy Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County Patricia Vento Vim Collaborative Anthony Volpe James Wade Marilyn & Jerome Walsh Thomas Wamser Jennifer Watts Barry Weaver Sara Webster Joanne Weidman Gudrun Weinberg Beth Weinstock Cathy Weiss Donna Welsh Robert Wharton Kathryn Whiteley Lois Whitman Ashley Wick Ronald Wick Nina Wiener Merrily Williams Seth Williams Nancy Wilson Elizabeth Wingfield Michael Winters Catherine Wise James Wise Joanne Wise Darla Yeager Philip Yevics Michael Young
Darlene Stewart
Elizabeth Yount
William K. Stewart Sr. Foundation
Anthony Zalesky Heidi Zapotocky
Stan Stojkovic
Roger Zepernick
John Stolzfus
Derek Zimmerman
Cheryl Stormes
S. Milton Zimmerman
Charles Strickler, Jr
Chris Zweifel
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Carlos Rodriguez
James Midkiff
ANNUAL
Stanley Merves
Estate of Frances P. Kellogg
2019
Kerby Keller
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We care because incarceration affects us all... “Half of all American adults have an immediate family member who has served time in prison or jail.*” Today, one percent of Pennsylvania’s adult population lives behind bars. I care because … I want to be part of the solution that heals a broken system. I care because … Prison and criminal justice reform is the most important human rights issue of our time.
I care because … Our system is shattered, broken, and barbaric. Instead of giving people mercy and reflection, our prisons often encourage people to become more callous, more hardened, more dangerous. It frightens me.
I care because ... People don’t stop being people just because they are in jail. I care because … The power to see people beyond their paths is a gift. To see the possibilities and potential of people, and to help their get there, is truly important.
PENNSYLVANIA
PRISON
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I care because … Our impact is measurable. Tangibly the lives of inmates and their
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families are better because of us.
If you care, too, please show your support with a donation https://pps.kindful.com/ or reurn the enclosed envelope.
*FWD.us. (2018) Every Second: The Impact of the Incarceration Crisis on American Families. Retrieved from https://everysecond.fwd.us/downloads/EverySecond.fwd.us.pdf
Staff & Leadership The Prison Society Staff.
Thomas J. Innes III, Esq.
E X E C U T I V E DIR E C TO R
PRESID EN T
cshubik@prisonsociety.org Joshua Alvarez PR I S O N MO N I TO R I N G
Attorney, Defender Association of Philadelphia David Davis
DIR E C TO R
VICE PRESIDENT
jalvarez@prisonsociety.org
Managing Director, Accenture
Kirstin Cornnell
Chris Covington, CFA
S OC I A L S E RV I C E S D IRECTOR
T REASURER
kcornnell@prisonsociety.org
Principal, HighVista Strategies
John Hargreaves
Carol Petraitis
VO LU N T E E R D I R E CTOR
jhargreaves@prisonsociety.org Jennifer Sozio F IN A N C E & O P E R AT IO N S DIR E C TO R
jsozio@prisonsociety.org Joseph Robinson M ENTO R I N G AS S OCIAT E
jrobinson@prisonsociety.org Shana Joseph CO MMU NI CAT I O NS & DE V E LO P ME NT ASS OC I AT E
SECRETA RY
Former Director of the Clara Bell Duvall Reproductive Freedom Project of the ACLU of Pennsylvania Hon. Camera Bartolatta
Pennsylvania State Senator, 46th District Steve Chanenson
Professor, Villanova Law School Robert A. Cicchinelli
Independent Contractor, Electrical Technology
sjoseph@prisonsociety.org
H. William DeWeese
Lobbyist and Political Consultant Rebecca Hillyer
Partner, Morgan Lewis Malik Neal
Director, Philadelphia Bail Fund Simeon Poles
Law Clerk to the Honorable Gerald McHugh Joan Porter
Official Visitor, Prison Society Matthew Ray
Co-Founder and Creative Director, ChatterBlast Media David Thornburgh
President and CEO, Committee of Seventy Jerome Walsh
Former Superintendent, SCI Dallas S.A. Williams
Senior Managing Consultant, Public Financial Management
Noelle Gambale AD MI NI S T R AT I V E & CUSTOMER S E RV I C E AS S OC I AT E
customerservice@prisonsociety. org Sheila Dale RE C E P T I O NI S T A N D FELLOW,
“Tom’s leadership on the board has been invaluable. He brings his own personal commitment to the cause combined with his unique leadership style. He continues to be an inspiration for the board.” —DAVID DAVIS, Board Vice President
REPORT
Claire Shubik-Richards
ANNUAL
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2019
STAFF
M AYO R ’ S CO MMI S SIO N ON AGI N G
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230 S. Broad Street Suite 605 Philadelphia, PA 19102
WWW. PR I S ONSO C IE TY.O RG
@PrisonSociety
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