Since 1985 the population of female prisoners has risen at nearly double the rate of males. Because women prisoners have historically been few, however, corrections policy has often not taken gender-specific needs into account. But over time, it has become increasingly obvious that female prisoners have different needs than men.
Until this past December, conservatives have often turned a blind eye to the excesses and failures of the criminal justice system. I was certainly guilty of that when I was in the California State Assembly. However, the current fiscal crisis, in which every state faces a deficit, has prompted these conservatives to speak out.
Amber has been volunteering for Angel Tree® for many years. She coordinates the program in her local church, purchases gifts, and delivers the gifts to families in her area. The single mother of four children admits that it’s not always easy.
Since 1985 the population of female prisoners has risen at nearly double the rate of males. Because women prisoners have historically been few, however, corrections policy has often not taken gender-specific needs into account. But over time, it has become increasingly obvious that female prisoners have different needs than men.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the holiday season Chuck Colson spent behind bars. “Just hopelessness and despair,” he remembers of that Christmas in prison, not only for him, but also for all the men he had come to know in the months he spent incarcerated.
When award-winning singer-songwriter Sara Groves set out to produce a new Christmas album, she wanted to record songs that would inspire reflection on the true meaning of Christmas—that Christ left glory to take up suffering not His own. Groves wound up performing a Christmas concert for prisoners and recording the session live—from behind prison walls.
While most teenagers are playing video games or watching TV, one courageous young man from Barrington, Illinois, dedicated his summer vacation to volunteer for Angel Tree in a unique way. Jeff Varwig spent 23 days riding his bicycle from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico to raise money for the ministry, helping children of prisoners reconnect with their incarcerated parents.
If you’re new to prison ministry or have a loved one doing time, where do you turn? The average bookstore lacks a shelf devoted to “prison issues.” That’s why BreakPoint and The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview have added a new section to their online bookstore, chockfull of resources devoted to the concerns of prison ministers and prisoners’ families.
Taking the step to mentor an ex-prisoner could be one of the most rewarding things you ever do. It’s also an area where many confident volunteers find themselves in uncharted waters. By watching for and recognizing these three red flags of mentoring ex-prisoners, you can better assist your mentees in successfully transitioning into society.
There are lots of ways you can make Angel Tree deliveries personalized and fun! By adding personal touches, you can make the delivery process easier, more special, and more meaningful!
The 2010 Angel Tree Christmas program is well underway, and we’re gearing up thousands of churches and volunteers for this impactful and exciting ministry opportunity!
Two-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank visited Prison Fellowship’s Virginia headquarters in October for a special screening of her new film, Conviction. Following the sneak preview, Swank chatted with Prison Fellowship and a live audience about wrongful convictions and the role churches can play in advocating for reform.
- Advocacy & Reentry
- Angel Tree
- Families of Prisoners
- Prison Fellowship News & Updates
- Second Chance Month
- Uncategorized
Chris Cleveland smoked his first joint at age 12. He remembers because that year his father and mother finally divorced.
Two-time Academy Award winner and producer Hilary Swank visited Prison Fellowship to join a panel talk about the importance of faith in prisoners’ lives and the role of the local church in justice reform.
Tom Maxwell, a long-time Prison Fellowship volunteer, points to the partially constructed gazebo on the grounds of the community hospital in Boonville, Missouri, as work-release prisoners from the nearby Boonville Correctional Center move nimbly across the gazebo’s roof, adding tar paper and shingles.
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 129
- 130
- 131
- 132
- 133
- …
- 139
- Next Page »