A Message from Prison Fellowship President and CEO, James J. Ackerman
Prison Fellowship® has been serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families for more than 40 years. Our vision is to see all those affected by crime and incarceration restored to God, to their families, and to their communities. While the current public health situation will temporarily affect some of our programs, our commitment to that vision is unwavering. We will continue to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ into prisons however we can, advocate for a more restorative criminal justice system, support second chances, and work to support and strengthen families with a parent in prison.
COVID-19 IMPACT ON PRISONS BY STATE
Correctional agencies report 14,806 active COVID-19 cases in state and federal prisons. Use the interactive map below to learn how COVID-19 has impacted men and women in your state’s prisons.
FEDERAL COVID-19 CASES
Total Active Cases: 3,180
Active Prisoner Cases: 1,519
Active Staff Cases: 1,661
Total number of deaths in federal prisons: 226
Prisoner deaths: 222
Staff deaths: 4
Volunteer Status:
Open to Volunteers
Visitor Status:
Open to Visitors
*As of 02/25/21. Updated weekly. Please check Bureau of Prisons for the latest statistics.
*Updated 02/25/21. Please check with the relevant agency for latest statistics.
The data within this map is based on total volume rather than per capita or percentages to reflect the reporting method used by corrections agencies.
In 2020, states used a variety of mechanisms and authorities to release individuals from prisons in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. States are now distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to combat the pandemic, in the community and in prisons. Prison Fellowship has created a resource to track the plans for vaccination of those who are incarcerated and correctional staff in prisons. To explore and share this resource, click here.
Please submit any questions or information regarding COVID-19 in prisons that are not reflected above to [email protected]
HOW COVID-19 AFFECTS PRISON FELLOWSHIP
Most Prison Fellowship programs are in state-run facilities. State departments of corrections are working closely with health authorities to make the best decisions for their facilities. Nearly all have decided to temporarily halt admission of outside visitors due to the virus' ability to spread quickly.
While this has affected the daily operations of our Prison Fellowship Academy, Academy participants are living out the program values in the face of this unprecedented crisis. Stepping more fully into roles of leadership and influence, they are continuing to lead Academy small groups, helping Chaplains provide programming, and lending a hand wherever needed. Additionally, our Academy staff continues to remain closely connected to participants, bringing in program assignments as well as messages of hope and encouragement while maintaining regular communication with our correctional partners.
That said, our field staff are continuing to work closely with our valued DOC partners and are actively cooperating with them on ways we can continue to serve them and the people under their care.
Many Prison Fellowship programs take place outside prisons and are not affected by prison closures:
IN-PRISON PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
BIBLES FOR PRISONERS
Last year, more than 50,000 large-print Life Recovery Bibles were provided by Prison Fellowship to men and women behind bars. Most of these Bibles are shipped directly from the publisher and not passed out by volunteers, so they can still get to prisoners even if visitor restrictions last more than a couple weeks. These Bibles are available in English and Spanish.
INSIDE JOURNAL®
Inside Journal® is our quarterly newspaper for English- and Spanish-speaking men and women in prison. Each quarter, Inside Journal brings the Gospel and inspirational articles to those behind bars.
As events and other in-prison programs are canceled, this positive reading material will be more important than ever before.
PRISON FELLOWSHIP EVENTS
Although COVID-19 has closed the doors of America’s prisons, God made a way for us to bring a Hope Event™ into prison—virtually! We partnered with 20 departments of corrections to broadcast a recorded Easter celebration inside prisons via closed-circuit television! This celebration included music performances, testimonies, and a beautiful altar call. Easter Hope Events are an annual tradition for Prison Fellowship. Chuck and Patty Colson regularly celebrated our Lord’s resurrection with incarcerated men and women. Despite prison lockdowns, we were truly blessed to continue the tradition virtually this year.
As the current public health situation continues to evolve, Prison Fellowship events are being handled on a case-by-case basis. In recent months, we have held events just outside prison fences in the fresh air. And through our new virtual platform Floodlight™ we have served more than 470,000 prisoners. (See below.)
For updates, please contact your local Prison Fellowship representative or call 1.800.206.9764.
FLOODLIGHT
One exciting new offering is Floodlight, positive inspirational and educational content Prison Fellowship is making available to prisons across the country. While programming is canceled, and prisoners are increasingly required to remain in their cells, Prison Fellowship is providing much-needed education and uplifting entertainment for incarcerated men and women.
Through Floodlight, Prison Fellowship is making available positive inspirational and educational content to prisons across the country. Â As prisoners are increasingly required to remain in their cells, we are able to offer much-needed education and uplifting entertainment.
Partnering with top Christian content providers, including ALPHA, Celebrate Recovery, and others, this new online portal provides free, high-quality video content corrections staff may download and share on prison televisions and devices (where available).
Floodlight is now reaching more than 470,000 incarcerated viewers in more than 100 correctional facilities across 43 states
ANGEL TREE AND FAMILY MINISTRY
ANGEL TREE®
Angel Tree, a program of Prison Fellowship, serves incarcerated parents by providing a pathway for restoring and strengthening their relationships with their children and families. Prison Fellowship mobilizes local churches and community organizations to give hundreds of thousands of children a gift, the Gospel message, and a personal message of love on behalf of their incarcerated parent.
Supporting the connection between children and their incarcerated parents is especially important in times like these, as in-prison visits with parents are being canceled.
REENTRY AND JUSTICE REFORM
STATEMENT REGARDING THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE
The prison population is one of society’s vulnerable communities. The COVID-19 pandemic is a significant threat to the health and wellbeing of prisoners. Read Prison Fellowship’s President and CEO James J. Ackerman’s statement on the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s impact on men and women and behind bars, and the need for the distribution of the vaccine to prisoners. Â
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
As increasing numbers of COVID-19 positive cases and deaths in prison are reported, Prison Fellowship is calling directly on policymakers and urgently mobilizing Christians to advocate for justice reforms to limit the use of incarceration.
Please read our open letter to policymakers and corrections leaders. Then use our simple online tool to contact your federal and state lawmakers and request that they allocate funding to meet pressing needs and limit the use of incarceration in certain circumstances.
JUSTICE REFORM BEYOND COVID-19
Prison Fellowship’s advocacy aims to support and protect incarcerated individuals and their families, those working in correctional environments, and returning citizens in this challenging time.
Our advocacy team continues to be a voice for those affected by incarceration, making their needs part of the national response to this unprecedented health crisis. Our commitment to a more restorative criminal justice system for all, including fairer sentencing, more constructive correctional culture, and closure for those with a criminal record, will continue long after the pandemic has passed, and these reforms will make an important difference in the lives of those affected by crime and incarceration.
JOIN OUR FREE VIRTUAL SMALL-GROUP STUDY
While many places of worship are closed, this could be an excellent opportunity to participate in an online exploration of God's heart for justice and discover how to pursue hope and restoration in your community.
Prison Fellowship welcomes you to join our free Online Outrageous Justice® Small Group. Through a series of six online meetings, we will explore the criminal justice system through a biblical lens, learn about current events, and hear personal stories.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
QUESTION: My loved one is in a Prison Fellowship program. The DOC won't provide any information about how they are doing. Can you help me get information?
The situation is changing quickly and varies dramatically by location. DOC representatives may be inundated with requests for information at this time. Prison Fellowship is unable to provide updates about individual program participants.
The best source of information on the general situation is your DOC’s website or the federal BOP website. Sometimes, DOC organizations update their social media accounts before their websites, so you may wish to follow them to receive the most up-to-date information. Some families of prisoners ask their incarcerated loved one to designate a trusted friend who can call and provide an update if their loved one becomes sick or is otherwise unable to communicate.
QUESTION: My loved one is sick with what I believe are COVID-19 symptoms. Can you help?
Prison Fellowship does not have influence over the provision of testing or medical care in correctional facilities, but we know this situation is trying for families with a loved one in prison. Please visit our website to see what kind of support we offer to families of prisoners throughout the year.
QUESTION: How can prisoners protect themselves from getting COVID-19? Should I donate face masks or hand sanitizer?
No, these items are not being requested as donations. While prisoners’ ability to isolate themselves or practice good hygiene may vary by location, the best practices for preventing illness include those recommended by the Centers for Disease Control: to wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, to avoid close contact with symptomatic people when possible, and to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
For ways you can help prisoners and their families right now, please see the list above.
JOIN US IN PRAYER
Join with a community of prayer warriors across the country who are praying intentionally for men and women behind bars, their families, communities, and the many ongoing events and activities that affect their lives.
PRISON FELLOWSHIP'S PRAYER TEAM
Are you personally affected by COVID-19? Please let us know how we can pray. Our staff would love to intercede for you.
PRISON FELLOWSHIP PRAYER GUIDE
Check out our guide for how you can pray for prisoners, prison staff, and their families during this crisis.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH PRISON FELLOWSHIP
While the coronavirus crisis lasts, our in-prison programming is on pause. It's critical that we help protect incarcerated men and women, who are especially vulnerable to the spread of disease in the prison environment. Fear and anxiety are also spiking behind bars as prisoners face a period of increasing isolation and are unable to see their loved ones. Just as importantly, we want to protect our dedicated volunteers and staff.
Once prison officials re-open the doors of their facilities in the coming weeks and months, we must be prepared for the herculean task of quickly ramping up all of our work behind bars, including more than 100 life-transforming Prison Fellowship Academy® sites, more than 200 individual Prison Fellowship™ Connection Classes, and our plans to produce hundreds of Hope Events that bring the Gospel inside prisons. Would you consider a donation to help us meet the surge in demand we are sure to see as soon as this crisis ends?
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