Remember the classic Coca-Cola ad from the 1970s? The one about teaching the world to sing in perfect harmony? The marketers knew they could touch a chord in people’s hearts about the power of music to promote peace, to unify.
That’s what young prisoners at New York’s Rikers Island—the nation’s second largest jail complex—are experiencing.
A significant number of cities in the United States reported an increase in homicide rates in 2015—a disturbing trend that some have claimed marks the end of a period that saw historic reductions in violent crimes in places like New York City and Chicago.
In celebration of Prison Fellowship’s 40 years of ministering to prisoners and their families, we will taking a look back at the early days of the ministry and remembering the people and the stories that have helped to make Prison Fellowship the nation’s largest prison outreach.
The popular blog Humans of New York specializes in producing quick little vignettes to accompany pictures of random faces in the crowd around New York City. The stories are short, but powerful reminders of the humanity of the people we often fail to notice in our everyday lives.
The following is a version of remarks given by Prison Fellowship President and CEO Jim Liske at Movement Day NYC, a gathering of Christian leaders discussing how to cultivate Gospel movements in urban areas across the country. For more information about Movement Day, visit www.movementday.com.
When most people think of higher education in the United States, the first images that come to mind are those of centuries-old, ivy-clad institutes of learning of the northeastern seaboard. The so-called “Ivy League” schools have long cultivated the reputation of being the most prestigious, most pedigreed schools in the nation.
One of the most beautiful churches in upstate New York is the Church of St. Dismas, The Good Thief, in Dannemora. Built between 1939 and 1941, this Neogothic-inspired stone chapel boasts massive oak doors and an impressive spire.
The church stands on the grounds of Clinton Correctional Facility, a short distance from the prison’s outer walls.
Recently I was speaking at a conference in New York City and leading a panel discussion about men and women coming back to the community.
At a break, as others were filing out to get refreshments, a man came toward me.
Motherhood is already a full-time job. Imagine how difficult it is for those moms facing an extra obstacle: incarceration.
What is it like to be a mother while in prison? Directed by Jenifer McShane, the documentary “Mothers of Bedford” explores the effects of long-term incarceration on mothers’ relationships with their children through the eyes of several women at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills, New York.
When the word “prison” is mentioned, a some very common images come to mind – cold, gray bars set against drab, colorless walls; small, dark cells intended to isolate and punish rather than to reform or rehabilitate. Acres of razor wire surrounding these facilities bespeak the philosophy that those on the inside are to be set apart, not to be connected in any meaningful way to society at large.
Raul would find himself in a situation he couldn’t run from, and he would learn that God was his only source of true freedom from his crime, his guilt, and his anger.
If there is someone who knows the criminal justice system – from both ends – it is Bernard Kerik. A one-time beat cop in New York City’s 14th Division, Kerik rose through the ranks to serve on Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s security detail in the early 1990s.
Most of us have done it. When planning a vacation, or buying a car, or even before trying out a new restaurant in town, we first go online and check out consumer reviews. Websites like tripadvisor.com, angieslist.com, and yelp.com can provide valuable, first-hand knowledge from others who already have experience with the places, things, or services we are considering for purchase.