THE PROBLEM IN AMERICA'S PRISON SYSTEM
The United States imprisons more of its citizens than any other nation—currently more than 1.8 million. While nearly 450,000 Americans are released from correctional facilities annually, two-thirds are rearrested within three years. Each year, the nation spends over $80 billion to incarcerate and reincarcerate people. Beyond the financial impact, the cycle of crime and incarceration produces broken relationships, victimization, despair, and instability impacting families and communities across the nation. Clearly, something isn’t working.
Gang life seemed Tony's only option. In prison now, he’s stopped fighting and doing drugs. Tony’s changed—and helping others do the same.
Gina left prison months ago. She worked hard, preparing for success outside. It seemed her past would cloud her future—until her church supported her second chance.
Joshs' dad is in prison hours away. He was angry, confused. Then caring volunteers shared Jesus’ love, and Josh found peace.
Prison Fellowship® believes no one is beyond God’s reach—even people like Tony, Gina, and Josh, who are affected by crime and incarceration.
Established on the biblical belief that all people are made in God’s image with inherent dignity and potential, Prison Fellowship exists to see lives, churches, and culture—both inside and outside prison—transformed by the power of Jesus Christ.
We believe Jesus heals broken people and systems. We also believe that as we draw near to those on the margins of society, including those behind bars, we draw near to Christ Himself. As people from outside and inside the prison gates encounter Jesus together, we eagerly anticipate sustained revival among individuals, families, and churches that will overflow as a witness to our culture.
"Christians are to be salt and light in the world … and that compels us to work for justice and righteousness amid the injustices of our society. … And when we do so, applying biblical principles to the tough situations confronting us in the prisons and the criminal justice system … it is a powerful witness to an often-skeptical world that the Gospel is not a benign, abstract philosophy but a life-giving relationship with the living Christ who has the power not only to change human hearts but to bring real hope to situations the world may deem hopeless … ."
- Chuck Colson, Prison Fellowship founder
