| For over 14 years now, dating back to 1994, it has | | | | 2. Work Ethic ~ how work is good for one's |
| been my privilege to go to our local jail (detention | | | | self-image and mental health; job skills to remain |
| center). In 2004, my team of volunteers helped form | | | | employed; how to prepare a modern resume; job |
| a non-profit organization called Fresh Start For Life, | | | | interview tips |
| Inc. During our years of prison outreach, we have | | | | 3. Community Service ~ why it is important to serve |
| realized the need for religious services for inmates. | | | | others; how to identify your gift or talent and use it |
| However, in view of the facts that, despite all the | | | | to serve; where to find volunteer opportunities |
| religious services going on in jails, we still have 85 | | | | available in the community; how giving makes you |
| percent of inmates committing new crimes and | | | | feel fulfilled and useful |
| returning to prison, we certainly need more than | | | | 4. Personal Finance ~ how to manage money; why |
| religion for inmates. When we ask the inmates who | | | | it's important to get out of consumer debt; how to |
| attend our classes, "How many of you consider | | | | prepare a monthly budget for yourself or for your |
| yourselves Christians or religious?", usually most of | | | | family; how to understand the link between financial |
| them proudly raise their hands. Some of them even | | | | problems and temptations to commit crimes, use or |
| tell us when they "got saved" or when they were | | | | deal drugs |
| "baptized". | | | | 5. Manhood Development (for male inmates) ~ how |
| Yet they keep breaking the law and returning to jail. | | | | to become a real man others can respect and look |
| Of course, those stats could get worse than 85 | | | | up to; why it is important to understand that men |
| percent recidivism without religious services, which | | | | cannot be good fathers until they learn how to be |
| deal with matters of the heart. We do not want to | | | | responsible males (manhood comes before |
| dump religious services from the list rehabilitation | | | | fatherhood) |
| tools available to inmates. But obviously, religion by | | | | 6. Computer Skills ~ how important computers are |
| itself does not constitute a crime prevention policy, | | | | for today's family and economy; typing and word |
| nor does religion equal rehabilitation in full. | | | | processing; desktop publishing; email; Internet |
| Drug rehabilitation programs and GED are helpful in | | | | In my experience, the inmates usually seem extra |
| showing inmates the path to a life of better things | | | | interested and more attentive whenever we address |
| than the penalties that come with crimes and drugs. | | | | one of these practical areas. That's a strong clue as |
| Inmates need parenting classes as well. Many of the | | | | to what the inmates think and feel they really need |
| women who attend our Fresh Start sessions are | | | | to break out of the gloomy cycle of |
| mothers; some of them are grandmothers. Many of | | | | crime-incarceration-release. |
| the men who attend our Genesis Man sessions are | | | | While there are few inmates that truly have the |
| fathers and grandfathers. It is as common to see | | | | "criminal mind", the vast majority of people in prison |
| twenty-somethings as it is to see gray hairs in those | | | | actually want to know how to get out of the rat |
| practical living classes. | | | | race of criminal conduct with its prodigal results on |
| If I were in the position to recommend additional | | | | the inmate, on his/her family, and on the community. |
| services to help turn inmates away from crimes and | | | | With more practical solutions, we can help |
| drugs, I would suggest these six key areas of life | | | | serious-minded inmates bounce back to productive |
| coaching for the incarcerated: | | | | living. |
| | | | With the use of alternative sentencing combined with |
| 1. Character Code ~ classes on ethics; why it's | | | | practical living classes, America can more than lower |
| important for society to have a standard of right and | | | | the number of inmates by at least 48 percent, |
| wrong, and why it is essential for every member of | | | | leaving only violent offenders behind bars to do their |
| the community to live by this code of ethics | | | | time. |