Change the culture of criminal justice and how prisons operate in Connecticut
Why should I, a private citizen, be interested in how prisons operate in CT?
If you’re a private citizen in CT, you own the state prisons. Or your family might know someone who has been in one of the prisons. Conditions in the prisons became more chaotic during the covid pandemic when volunteers could not go inside. As a result, prisons have had to focus even more on safety and security rather than rehabilitation. Perhaps volunteer for one of the prison ministries in the criminal justice system.
What are the results now from your investment in incarceration?
Within three years after release from prison, about one half of reentrants in CT recidivate, committing additional crime, and go back into prison.
How much does it cost to house an inmate in CT?
Connecticut has one of the highest pay-to-stay rates in the country. The cost of incarcerating an inmate is $249 per day, or $90,885 a year. (March 31, 2022) We believe Correction might be the most expensive thing we do in the state.
What kind of system for criminal justice and correction would produce better outcomes?
A number of CT correctional professionals have been to Norway to observe its Bergen and other prisons. The recidivism rate within three years in Norway is about 20%, a huge savings compared with CT at about 50%. Most importantly, thousands of lives are transformed.
How are conditions different in prisons in Norway?
- From the time an inmate goes into a prison, he or she is being prepared to go back out.
- “Once inside, the goal is to rehabilitate people.”
- …”up to 50% of the inmates go to school every day within the prison walls.”
- They don’t take away the right to vote, to speak, to a religion, to read newspapers, or get healthcare.
- “The prison sentence is enough punishment.”
- Inmates want to give something back.
- They do work projects, maintenance, gardening, making meals, baking cakes, etc.
- With good behavior, they go outside “on rock climbing trips in plain clothes and unshackled.”
- They “try to say that every person in Norway is a shareholder of every prison”
- “It’s the public who owns the prison.”
- They integrate family and holidays and allow children to come and visit.
- Inmates and staff do things together, see themselves in partnership.
How does Norway treat youth justice differently?
“Norwegians think about youth justice in a completely different way. You cannot be convicted of a crime in Norway until you are 15-years-old.” And Norway “is a model for education within the prison system.”
What actions are being taken to transform corrections and change the culture of criminal justice in CT?
Fortunately, Connecticut has initiated a process that will transform our criminal justice and prison operations. Even the culture in which they exist will be improved. Our state is taking some preliminary steps that are necessary to import the Norway model for corrections. A few other states (MN, ND, OR, WA and CA) have also done staff training to make these changes.
Who are the people who recommend a criminal justice system in CT more like the one in Norway?
Most of the CT corrections professionals listed below visited the Bergen Prison in Norway in March 2023. They met again December 5, 2023 at Konover Auditorium, UConn Storrs Campus. Many of the comments herein are taken from this full transcript. of that meeting.
- Andrew Clark, Director, University of Connecticut Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy. This institute sponsors the partnership CT has with Norwegian Correctional Services.
- Walter Smith Randolph. had been Investigative Editor, Connecticut Public Radio, WNPR. He became full time Investigative Executive Producer WCBS | CBS New York in November 2023. .
- Robyn Porter, State Representative for New Haven and Hamden, working for criminal justice and juvenile justice, Judiciary Committee, CT General Assembly. She is also with Stop Solitary Connecticut.
- Shannon Sampieri, Mentor, Women Overcoming Recidivism Through Hard Work (WORTH). She expected to be released from prison with “a college degree from Wesleyan and a job at an aerospace engineering company that she started while in prison,” …saved paychecks and … a 401(k).”
- Tori Berube, Mentor, WORTH
- Trina Sexton, Warden, York Correctional Institution. Niantic, CT, which “has an extensive array of programs.”
- Eulalia Garcia, District Administrator, Connecticut Department of Correction, says this will take a cultural shift, it’s a societal issue.
- Iliana Pujols, Policy Director, Connecticut Justice Alliance, Bridgeport, CT.
- Brittany LaMarr, Tow Youth Justice Institute, University of New Haven.
- Veron Walters-Beaulieu, Acting Superintendent, CT Department of Correction School District, Unified District #1.
- Virginia Lewis, Community Partners In Action. Direct services and community partnerships for “case management, transitional housing, reentry support, workforce development and coaching, as well as partnerships with behavioral, mental health and addiction services” for successful reentry.
- Barbara Fair, Lead Organizer, Stop Solitary Connecticut, wants “correctional facilities to be humane and safe for both correctional staff and incarcerated people.”
Support rehabilitation in prisons in CT
Some tools for rehabilitation are simple and cost very little. The book called holy moments by Matthew Kelly can improve attitudes to reduce chaos. A donor can send a bulk quantity of 64 to a prison chaplain for distribution to residents at a cost of $1.50 per copy. This can be a first step to a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation to eliminate an annual cost that is probably more than 50,000 times greater to incarcerate a prisoner who recidivates.
Action you can take. Give the holy moments book to the chaplain of a prison near you and see if he would like to receive a box of the books to hand out. Ask him if there is any other help you can provide.
What programs serve youth to prevent their going to prison?
Shiloh Prison Ministry held their 13th annual Community Prison Awareness & Prevention Gathering at Mitchell College, Clarke Center Auditorium, New London, CT, on Saturday, 10/21/23. Flyer
Faith 2 Faith Ministries, Intl., f2fmi.org “is committed to reaching young people for Christ.”
Truth Alive! A new Connecticut-based ministry “To bring spiritual awakening through the power of the Holy Spirit
who transforms lives and unites the body of Christ.”
Youth Challenge of CT, Inc “operates residential programs and conducts outreach to help persons with life controlling problems, such as substance abuse, find drug free, productive, and meaningful lives.”
The Connecticut Justice Alliance is a Youth/Adult Partnership working to end the criminalization of youth.
What volunteer programs for in-prison ministry are seeking to expand to help transform corrections?
As Jesus said, “…I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Matthew 25:36 NIV
Kairos Prison Ministry
“Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. is a lay-led, interdenominational Christian ministry in which men and women volunteers bring Christ’s love and forgiveness to prisoners and their families. The Kairos programs take the participants on a journey that demonstrates the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Kairos Prison Ministry is Christian in nature, although no religious affiliation is necessary to be a participant. They involve a structured model that includes the weekend experience, followed by guests or participants gathering regularly for accountability, support and prayer
The Ministry has three programs, which reach over 25,000 people annually: Kairos Inside, Kairos Outside, and Kairos Torch. The Ministry operates in prisons in 35 U.S. states, and 10 countries: Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, Peru, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Over 30,000 volunteers conduct nearly 500 programs in prisons and communities annually in the U.S. and worldwide. trains teams that establish and follow up a Christian community inside prisons by the transforming love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Prisoners who have had their lives transformed by Jesus Christ bear witness to others.”
Kairos Inside brings positive and negative leaders together, in both male and female prisons, for a 3 ½ day weekend designed to start building the Christian community inside the institution.
Kairos Outside supports the female relatives/friends of men and women who are or have been incarcerated, or women who were unable to attend Kairos Inside while in prison. They attend a special weekend retreat followed by a continuing ministry.
Kairos Torch volunteers mentor youth in prison, so they can begin to make better life choices. It offers an initial weekend, followed by a long-term mentoring process encouraging young men and women to move towards making better life.
Prison Fellowship “The mission of Prison Fellowship is to restore those affected by crime and incarceration. One of the primary ways it does this is through their Prison Fellowship Academy, an intensive in-prison program founded on Christian principles of character and relational development. Prison Fellowship staff directs The Academy facilitated by trained volunteers. The Academy has six core values of good citizenship – productivity, responsibility, integrity, community, affirmation, and restoration. Participants are prepared to be positive, productive members of their communities inside and outside or prison, resulting in benefits for those around them.” Dan Kingery, our Vice-President of Field Operations, puts it best when he says, “There is no re-entry without pre-entry. And, that’s where Prison Fellowship comes in.”
The Prison Fellowship Academy at York CI in Niantic was launched in June 2023 and has been meeting every Tuesday and Thursday evening with 8 women volunteers! The transformation in the women there has been incredible! Our program is a 50-week Faith-based program resulting in 200 hours of life-changing training and experiences! It is without doubt the best pre-entry program for re-entry! I am praying mightily along with many others for God to open up the doors for Prison Fellowship and other faith-based prison ministries across the state despite what the trend appears to be!” Yours in Christ, Bernie Norman
Alpha Prison and Community Ministry. Alpha has been active since 2007 with 11 Alpha courses that awarded certificates of completion to more than 4,000 individuals. There were 30 to 35 volunteers at one time. Covid shut down the ministry for almost 3 years until it resumed in November 2022. It began its sixth program September 2023 where 100 people received certificates. Two churches: Kingdom Life Christian Church in Milford (https://klcc.us/) and First Congregational Church in Cromwell (https://fcccromwell.org/ ) have been active .
What programs serve wives and families impacted by incarceration?
Kairos Outside retreat for wives and families in CT impacted by incarceration will occur May 17-19, 2024 in Colebrook, CT.
Suggestion. Partner with a radio station to be a blessing to the children of incarcerated parents. Every Christmas season, reunite children with their incarcerated parents, giving them a true Christmas experience. Follow the example of HOPE for Prisoners in Las Vegas with SOS Radio.
What programs support reentrants when released at the completion of their sentence?
Second Chance Churches pair a mentor with a returning citizen in relational support to engage in church and community services. See this Urban Alliance list of Second Chance Churches, their bi-annual gathering April 27, 2024, 9:00 am – 11:00 am, at Glory Chapel International Cathedral, and how to become one.
HomeBridge Second Chance Employment at The Pub they operate in Bridgeport, CT trains formerly incarcerated individuals to become excellent employees.
Youth Challenge of CT, Inc. Re-Entry Services in Hartford, CT, for men 18 years old and older that continue to need a substance use free and safe environment to support their overall substance use and mental health needs. This program is a 6 bed program that men can utilize from 3-6 months.
CT Reentry Roundtable Collaborative (from its website) The State of CT Reentry Collaborative is made up of seven active reentry roundtables located in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, Southeastern CT, Waterbury, and Windham. Each roundtable is a collaboration of state and local organizations working together to identify needs and address gaps in services for individuals returning home from incarceration. Individuals with lived experience are encouraged to join this network and work alongside these providers to find real solutions. This collaborative builds relationships with organizations and agencies across Connecticut to foster successful reentry, eliminate barriers, reduce recidivism and increase public safety. To learn more, please visit the CT Reentry website.
Enable every church in CT to have a prison ministry and to become a Second Chance Church.
“Second Chance Churches welcome returning citizens to be part of their church family. Each church has an identified mentor who will offer emotional and spiritual support, help you connect into church programs and offer referrals to programs in the community.”
Members of International Christian Center, 35 Redden Avenue. New London, send letters to residents of Brooklyn Correctional Institution through the prison chaplain and receive very positive letters in response.
Living Hope Church in Shelton ministers to men at Bridgeport Correctional Center.
Black Rock Church in Fairfield had a Mission Fair that identified new volunteers for Bridgeport Rescue Mission, HomeBridge, Kairos Prison MInistry, and a Youth Camp.
Plant a church with a pastor inside a prison
Prison Congregations of America (PCA) has a model to create an actual church plant within the prison. (These are excerpts from PCA’s description of how its model is unique.) PCA does this in partnership with the Department of Corrections in harmony with safety guidelines and security restrictions of the correctional facility. An organized denomination supports the mission and calls the pastor to lead the denomination in accordance with DOC protocol. The pastor develops relationships with several outside churches to be an ecumenical network of support for the inside church. Some of the volunteers come from inside the prison. Pastoral care and welcoming faith continues following release and reentry to freedom.
See this map of PCA’s Existing Congregations, and display of 23 existing Congregations of Faith affiliated with PCA.
Volunteer for prison ministry in CT
Be sure to see the Volunteer for prison ministry in CT page.
It has many ways to serve youth, men, women, wives, families, re-entrants, churches, and rehabilitation before and after, inside and outside prisons!!!
What national organizations have similar goals for prison policy and criminal justice?
Quakers in the World has an Alternative to Violence (AVP) Program.“There is a strong Quaker tradition of writing about criminal justice issues, though there are many diverging views.” The Alternatives To Violence Project-USA
The Prison Policy Initiative is a nonpartisan, nonprofit that uses research, advocacy, and organizing to dismantle mass incarceration. It has been in the movement for 22 years. See its extensive national Winnable criminal justice reforms in 2024.
View its Connecticut Profile with research on:
- Jails and bail
- Racial justice
- Drug policy
- Poverty and debt
- Probation and parole
- Exploitation in the criminal justice system
- Communication behind bars
- The collateral consequences of incarceration
- Women and gender
- Public health
- Policing
- COVID-19
- Prison gerrymandering
JUMPSTART USA is a 501 (c)(3) “Servant Organization To State Chapters… dedicated to providing a Christian environment for the formerly incarcerated that will allow them to transition from incarceration to a productive life.”
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