Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • All Options
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
Search
  • STORIES
    • Stories
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • The Restoration Series [Videos]
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Why Help Prisoners?
    • What We Do
    • In-Prison
      • Prison Fellowship Academy
      • In-Prison Programs
      • Hope Events
      • Inside Journal
      • Women’s Ministry
      • Create: New Beginnings
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Camp
    • Justice Reform
      • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • News & Updates
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
    • Church Partners
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
    • Research and Evaluation
      • Good Citizenship Model®
  • RESOURCES
    • Subscribe to Our Email
    • Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Resources for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
      • Subscribe To The Hope Connection
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Angel Tree Coordinator Training
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Create: New Beginnings Book
    • Share on Social
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Beliefs
    • Mission & Vision
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2024 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards

Working Together for Reform

February 5, 2015 by Steve Rempe

In the highly partisan environment of Washington, DC, there is precious little on which policy makers and influencers on both sides of the political divide can agree.  The subject of criminal justice reform, however, appears to be one of the few where Republicans and Democrats are willing to work together to enact meaningful change.

Jones_Holder

Former Obama administration official Van Jones (at podium) and Koch Industries Chief Counsel Mark Holden discuss criminal justice reforms on Capitol Hill.

At a recent gathering on Capitol Hill, a very diverse panel discussed ways to improve the criminal justice system, and found themselves largely in agreement as to what the problems are, and what steps can be taken to make positive change.

“I think we have been talking past each other for a long time,” said former Obama administration official and liberal commentator Van Jones.  “I think we have missed opportunity after opportunity for a long time and that’s why you have a 595 percent growth in the federal budget for incarceration when probably both sides know there are better and smarter ways to get where we are going.”

Jones joined Mark Holden, general counsel for Koch Industries and occasional spokesman for conservative philanthropists Charles and David Koch, in urging Congress to take steps to reduce prison populations.  Holden has been particularly active in pursuing such reforms, having published a lengthy essay on overcriminalization for Politico Magazine earlier in the month.

“Since [the Politico article],” Holden said, “we have seen so many letters, emails, calls from people around the country—and it’s across the spectrum—doctors, defense lawyers, public defenders, public officials, educators, hourly workers, law enforcement, inmates, prison officials, former prisoners, former prison officials, young, old , urban, rural—all agreeing, telling horror stories about them and their family.  … Everybody has a story here. … This is something that we can all work on.  That’s what’s such a great thing.  We think we have a great opportunity to improve our criminal justice system and to improve society for all Americans.”

The panel included both Republican and Democratic members of Congress who have proposed justice reform legislation.  Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Al Franken (D-MN) addressed a bill they have reintroduced to ensure better mental health care to prisoners, and Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) discussed his proposal that every federal law that carries the punishment of incarceration be reviewed to determine if imprisonment is the most effective and efficient practice.

Former Justice Fellowship president Pat Nolan also participated in the panel discussion.  Nolan began his remarks by praising his former boss, Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson:

I attribute [my success in working for prison reform] to Chuck Colson.  He had the vision.  He could have gone out and practiced law, but instead dedicated the rest of his life to calling attention to the fact of the injustice in our system and the dehumanization of inmates.  He offered hope to inmates and established Prison Fellowship for that.

Filed Under: Prison Fellowship News & Updates Tagged With: Justice Fellowship, Justice Reform, Koch Industries, Mark Holden, Pat Nolan, Prison Reform, Van Jones

SELECT A TOPIC

  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Angel Tree
  • Families of Prisoners
  • Feature Stories
  • From the CEO
  • Hope Events
  • Inside Journal
  • Press Releases
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Prison Fellowship International
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
  • Reentry
  • Second Chance Month
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Warden Exchange

MOST POPULAR

The California Prison Where Hope is Alive and Well

April 9, 2025

My Story: Tynecia

April 9, 2025

The Pastor Who Got a Second Chance

April 2, 2025

LATEST VIDEOS

WATCH ALL VIDEOS

Join our online community

Facebook Facebook X (Twitter) X (Twitter) Instagram Instagram YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

  • Ways to Donate
  • Inspirational Stories
  • Angel Tree
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Justice Reform

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • Warden Exchange

JOIN RESTORATION PARTNERS AND WITNESS GOD RESTORE LIVES

Restoration Partners give monthly to bring life-changing prison ministry programs to incarcerated men and women across the country.

 

JOIN NOW
  • CONTACT US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • PRIVACY
  • FINANCIALS
© 2025 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

Angel Tree®, Angel Tree Camping®, Angel Tree Sports CampTM, and Warden Exchange® are programs of Prison Fellowship®.