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| Georgia eyes faith-based prisons |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 04/12/2004 |
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The nation's first all-faiths faith-based prison got the once over Thursday by Georgia prison officials, and they liked what they saw. James Donald, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections, accompanied by two members of the state's pardon and parole board and others, toured Florida's Lawtey Correctional Institution, transformed into a prison for inmates who seek a religious life. "I clearly see the value of a program like this. When you have a faith-based program, it provides the men and women in the prisons a degree of hope that motivates them to lead productive lives," said Donald, who took over Georgia's prison system in December. Lawtey has 748 inmates, representing 32 different faiths. Franchatta Barber, director of classifications and programs for the Florida Department of Corrections, said the program, established in December, "is a work in progress." "What we are looking for is a change in character," she said. All the inmates involved volunteered to participate in the Lawtey program, but no one is required to go to any of the faith-based programs. While the Georgia officials were touring the grounds, Joel Abrams, 25, was quietly reading the Torah in the chapel library. "I can be a Jew without having to worry about being hindered in who I am," Abrams said. Nearby, several dozen inmates discussed anger management, and a group of American Indians discussed their beliefs. The goal of the faith programs, which have drawn some criticism because of blurring of the lines between church and state, is to reduce the number of inmates returning to prison. Garland Hunt, vice chairman of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, said he thinks the Florida program can be a model for Georgia. |
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