NCJ Number
217112
Date Published
2004
Length
160 pages
Annotation
This book explains how churches can help released prisoners live responsible, healthy, satisfying, and law-abiding lives when they return to their communities.
Abstract
The first chapter suggests that church members make a personal "commitment" to returning prisoners by becoming their mentors, employers, Bible teachers, or volunteers at a halfway house. It further suggests that church members "reach out" to their pastors in explaining the importance of the church becoming involved in helping a returning prisoner and offer to work with him/her in developing a plan for the congregation to become involved in helping returning prisoners. It also suggests that churches conduct a "survey" to find out what services are already being provided to returning prisoners in their communities, with a view toward deciding where church members and the congregation can best help. This could be followed by the church acting to "convene" a meeting of the groups that are helping returning prisoners, so each can learn what other groups are doing and offer suggestions for how the church can fill any gaps in services. This meeting should include groups that provide returning prisoners housing, job placement, drug treatment, and health care. Other chapters discuss key features of a church's ministry to returning prisoners. These include helping prisoners understand the importance of faith and morality in the development of a new life and providing them with love and support in the course of providing services related to safe housing, a good job, access to health care, freedom from drug addiction, repairing the harm done by crime, and serving the community. Chapter resources