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Faith-Based Rehab Programs in Prison

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Faith-Based Rehab Programs in Prison
Faith-based Rehabilitation Programs in Prisons
Yashila Crowell
JUS 510 Contemporary CJ Issues and Trends
April 13, 2014
Professor Lacy Ellis

Faith-based rehabilitation programs are support groups within the prison system that inmates can be a part of to encourage, support, stability, growth, life changing skills, and thinking. These programs can help assist inmates in adjusting to prison life while being incarcerated and it can also help them have a strong foundation upon their release. In addition, these programs can help give them a positive view of life and some type of structure once they are released back into society.
There are many types of faith-based programs such as Prison Fellowship (PF), the Inner Change Freedom Initiative (IFI), and the Three-Phase Program. Prison Fellowship and many other prison ministries main goal is to teach the importance of believing in a higher power while helping former prisoners to lead crime-free lives and keeping a faith-based foundation. There are many in-prison programs which are offered by these prison ministries. Among these are weekly Bible studies and one-to-three-day seminars. The more these inmates participate within these programs the greater livelihood of strengthening their faith and changing their perspective on life. According to Byron Johnson, "there is, however, preliminary empirical evidence that regular participation in volunteer-led Bible studies is associated with reductions in recidivism" (2012, p. 60). A second type of faith-based program is the Inner Change Freedom Initiative (IFI) which is a religious program structured around God's law and respect for others. The mission of IFI is "to encourage the spiritual and moral regeneration of prisoners" (Johnson, 2012, p. 61). The IFI started in April 1997, at the Carol Vance Unit. The Carol Vance Unit housed over 300 prisoners in Richmond, Texas. The Vance Unit was selected because of the number of prisoners which were held at the


References: Hewitt, J. D. (2006). Having faith in faith-based prison programs. Criminology & Public Policy, 5(3), 551-558. Johnson, B. R. (2012). Can a Faith-Based Prison Reduce Recidivism?. Corrections Today, 73(6), 60-62. Yoon, J. & Nickel, J. (2008). Reentry Partnerships: A Guide for States & Faith-based and Community Organizations. Council of State Governments Justice Center. New York, NY. Retrieved on April 9, 2012 from http://ojp.gov/fbnp/pdfs/reentry- partnership.pdf
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