...Benefit All

A recent news item states taxpayers are footing the bill for religious programs in prisons referring to the InterChange Freedom Initiative of Pirson Fellowship.  The program is being challenged in Iowa.  However, the article did not state all the facts so the reader could get a true picture of the situation.

The article didn't state:

1. Prisoners who participate in the program do so voluntarily and can leave the program at any time.

2. The judge considered it “coercion” for the program to offer prisoners programs and tools needed for rehabilitation.

3. A catholic inmate did accuse the program as being hostile to his beliefs but the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights filed a brief endorsing the program.

4. Prison Fellowship pays 60% of the costs of the program and Iowa pays 40% pursuant to a competitive bid contract used by the non-sectarian -religious aspects of the program.

5. Failed to share 8% of the graduates return to prison while 75% of nonparticipants return to prison.

If a religious emphasis reduces the prison population 60% shouldn't taxpayers insist the program be in every prison. Imagine the money saved by reduced law enforcement, smaller prisons, decrease costs from criminal activities, and prisoners returning to society literate, committed to Judeo-Christian ethics and a self worth that exudes self confidence gained through faith in God..

I vote for InterChange Freedom Initiative. Local sheriffs would have no housing crisis at the jail and the State Penal Departments of Corrections could reduce their budget.

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