Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Volunteer
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
  • 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 Camps
    • 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
  • 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
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Resources for Angel Tree Coordinators
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Share on Social
    • For Media Outlets
  • ABOUT US
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards
    • Our Beliefs
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2022 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News

Act Now for Prison Reform!

June 20, 2018 by Prison Fellowship

first step act

'WASTING AWAY'


The time for prison reform is now. The FIRST STEP Act, which would change lives and protect communities by helping federal prisoners access transformative programming, passed in the House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 360-59 in late May. Now the bill has gone to the Senate, and senators need to know that voters want prisons to be places of correction and rehabilitation.

“People are created in the image of God, with dignity and the potential to change. Rehabilitative prison reforms reflect the value of both [prisoners] and the people in their communities,” write Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., and Craig DeRoche, senior vice president of advocacy and public policy at Prison Fellowship®. “A more restorative approach to prison—one that requires incarcerated men and women to earn back the public’s trust by completing transformative programs—can reduce crime and prevent victimization."

A more restorative approach to prison—one that requires incarcerated men and women to earn back the public’s trust by completing transformative programs—can reduce crime and prevent victimization.

For those prisoners who have an opportunity to study and participate in programs designed to prepare them for reentry, the risk for returning to prison after their release is reduced by 43 percent. Unfortunately, many federal prisons lack such adequate programming. With more than 180,000 men and women in federal prison—40,000 of whom will be released this year alone—this shortcoming can have far-reaching, harmful effects on our communities.

“As stewards of justice and taxpayer dollars, federal authorities have a responsibility to adopt the reforms best supported by evidence,” say Collins and DeRoche.

The FIRST STEP Act will greatly increase in-prison educational and vocational programming in the federal prison system. By providing prisoners with more opportunities to deal with substance abuse and mental health issues, receive a basic education, and acquire job-readiness skills, they will have a higher chance of successfully reentering society upon their release. That’s why we must act now.

DONATE YOUR SIGNATURE
Donate Your Signature in Support of the FIRST STEP Act Today

'WASTING AWAY'

Bryan Underwood spent six years in a federal prison. He noticed that many of the people around him, without much access to programming to improve their lives, were simply “wasting away.” Bryan says that at best, many prisoners spent their time watching TV or working out. At worst, they get involved with drugs, drinking, and gambling.

"As stewards of justice and taxpayer dollars, federal authorities have a responsibility to adopt the reforms best supported by evidence."
Many people in the federal prison system are ready to turn their lives around and simply want to regain the trust of the communities to which they are returning. Federal prisoners have limited access to transformative programming like substance-abuse treatment, literacy classes, and job-readiness training.

Bryan, who once worked as a private contractor with the FBI before his incarceration, enrolled in a few programs that were offered through nonprofit organizations at his correctional facility. However, the demand far exceeds the availability of programming at the federal level.

The FIRST STEP Act will expand prison programs and earned time credit opportunities, develop a Post-Sentencing Risk and Needs Assessment System implemented in all facilities to assign the most effective programming to each individual, and provide incentives for program completion.


CALL-TO-ACTION

The time to make history is now. In less than two minutes, you can tell your senator you support programs that changes lives and make our communities safer.

Donate your signature today.

Filed Under: Advocacy & Reentry, Feature Stories Tagged With: FIRST STEP Act, Prison Fellowship, Prison Reform

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

Prison Fellowship Statement on Tyre Nichols

January 28, 2023

Prison Fellowship Responds to Inaction on Crack Cocaine Sentencing at Close of the 117th Congress

December 20, 2022

Criminal Justice Reform Achievements

December 16, 2022

LATEST VIDEOS

WATCH ALL VIDEOS

JOIN OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

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

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • For Media Outlets
  • 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
© 2023 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

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