Prison Fellowship,® the nation’s largest Christian nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, released the following statement during Prison Fellowship’s Week of Action for the Federal Prison Oversight Act (S. 1401 | H.R. 3019). This week, over 65 Prison Fellowship volunteer Justice Ambassadors and faith leaders will be meeting virtually with congressional offices from over 50 offices in more than 20 states in support of the legislation, which would create new tools for regular external oversight of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
“Prison Fellowship has nearly 50 years of experience offering hope and restoration in America’s prisons,” said James Ackerman, President and CEO at Prison Fellowship. “Innovation, transparency, and accountability are powerful tools to empower a healthy prison culture. A constructive prison culture, in turn, is more likely to produce the outcomes we want to see when people leave prison: safe, successful neighbors.”
“Scripture is clear that we ought to remember those in prison,” said Heather Rice-Minus, Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiative at Prison Fellowship. “This week, more than 65 Christians advocates from across the nation are sharing this biblical truth with Capitol Hill and striving to bring oversight to federal prisons.”