Click Here to see a Powerpoint Presentation: California's Prison Crisis; How Should the Church Respond?
Since beginning in January, 2013, the PRO Mentors programs at East Mesa Reentry Facility (EMRF) and Vista Detention Facility (VDF) have involved over 400 men, whom we call PROs. We have helped over 100 PROs after their release from custody. We started at EMRF with six PROs. Three years later, we started at VDF with two PROs.
Volunteer Mentors visit one-on-one with their PROs in custody, during scheduled visitation times. After release, mentors and PROs meet regularly for Bible study, prayer, and spiritual growth.
Background
In May of 2011, the Supreme Court of the United States declared the California Prison System unconstitutional. The prison system was at 211% of capacity, which was determined by the Court to be cruel and unusual punishment.
The State’s solution has been to move prisoners and parolees out of the state prisons and make them the responsibility of the County where the offense was committed.
AB109, the Public Safety Realignment Act, changed the definition of a felony, shifts housing for lower level offenders from prison to local jail, and transfers supervision of designated parolees from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to County Probation.
Men who are convicted of non-violent, non-serious and non-sex offenses are housed in local jails. AB109 allows for a "split sentence" in which part of the sentence is supervised by Probation in the community (Mandatory Supervision or MS). Those released from state prison are supervised by Probation (Post Release Community Supervision or PRCS).
The Need
Inmates who are involved in religious programs during incarceration are much less likely to re-offend upon release. Released offenders who are able to continue to have religious influence are also much less likely to re-offend. Probation and Parole officers can supervise the legalities of a released offender, but should not be expected to help find a religious community. The Church should provide accountability for released offenders who volunteer for Christian help during their time under supervision.
Since beginning in January, 2013, the PRO Mentors programs at East Mesa Reentry Facility (EMRF) and Vista Detention Facility (VDF) have involved over 400 men, whom we call PROs. We have helped over 100 PROs after their release from custody. We started at EMRF with six PROs. Three years later, we started at VDF with two PROs.
Volunteer Mentors visit one-on-one with their PROs in custody, during scheduled visitation times. After release, mentors and PROs meet regularly for Bible study, prayer, and spiritual growth.
Background
In May of 2011, the Supreme Court of the United States declared the California Prison System unconstitutional. The prison system was at 211% of capacity, which was determined by the Court to be cruel and unusual punishment.
The State’s solution has been to move prisoners and parolees out of the state prisons and make them the responsibility of the County where the offense was committed.
AB109, the Public Safety Realignment Act, changed the definition of a felony, shifts housing for lower level offenders from prison to local jail, and transfers supervision of designated parolees from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to County Probation.
Men who are convicted of non-violent, non-serious and non-sex offenses are housed in local jails. AB109 allows for a "split sentence" in which part of the sentence is supervised by Probation in the community (Mandatory Supervision or MS). Those released from state prison are supervised by Probation (Post Release Community Supervision or PRCS).
The Need
Inmates who are involved in religious programs during incarceration are much less likely to re-offend upon release. Released offenders who are able to continue to have religious influence are also much less likely to re-offend. Probation and Parole officers can supervise the legalities of a released offender, but should not be expected to help find a religious community. The Church should provide accountability for released offenders who volunteer for Christian help during their time under supervision.
