Dr. Norman Johnston, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, made a presentation on a panel at the national conference of the Prisoner Visitation and Support organization in July at the Sugarloaf Conference Center of Chestnut Hill College. The other two panelists were Dr. Marie Gottschalk, Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, and William DiMascio, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Prison Society. Johnston’s topic covered the historical development of prisons and the worldwide influence of American prisons in the 19th century. The members of the Visitation and Support group visit prisoners in Federal and military prisons, where local prinsoners’ welfare organizations rarely have access.