Prison Fellowship Blog
stories of redemption and hope
The Power of One Voice
In 1983, Melvin approached the doors of a Christian revival, looking to ask the “church people” for money. A large church service at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, campground was not the young man’s usual scene. When he wasn’t working odd jobs in welding and construction, he often spent his afternoons at a local bar, swapping stories with a friend over drinks. Melvin knew little about the revival when he walked in. He did know he’d been living on the streets. That night, he wasn’t just scraping to pay for a...
I Will Fear No Evil: The Christian Response to Violent Crime
A BROKEN WORLD
We know from Genesis 1 that God created this world and called it good. He made humans in His image, giving them dignity and free will. Ultimately Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, and the impact of sin resounds throughout history. Scripture also indicates that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual darkness (Ephesians 6:12). We have an enemy who intends to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).
Still, God is good and sovereign beyond our understanding. H...
We know from Genesis 1 that God created this world and called it good. He made humans in His image, giving them dignity and free will. Ultimately Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, and the impact of sin resounds throughout history. Scripture also indicates that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual darkness (Ephesians 6:12). We have an enemy who intends to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).
Still, God is good and sovereign beyond our understanding. H...
Mona’s Miracle: A Mother’s Journey to Recovery and New Life
Over the years, Mona had turned to drugs and alcohol for answers, like she’d seen her own mother do. For Mona, substance abuse numbed the pain of childhood trauma. While her dad tried to keep her on the straight and narrow, she spent much of her teen years fighting, drinking, and getting high. Mona was 15 when she had her first baby. Her dad stepped in to take care of her son as she cycled in and out of juvenile detention centers. Later, as an adult, she spent time behind bars for DUIs and assau...
What is Second Chance Month? Unlocking Brighter Futures for Millions
In the United States, 1 in 3 adults has a criminal record, which limits their access to education, jobs, housing, voting, and other things necessary for a full and productive life. Even after their debt to society is paid, these men and women face some 44,000 documented barriers to success, in addition to widespread social stigma. This all occurs against the backdrop of the criminal justice system's stark racial imbalances. People of color—particularly Black Americans—are disproportionately repr...
Leaving the Past Behind, Leading the Way to Justice Reform
'I’ve learned that I can speak before people that I thought were beyond my reach. I can make a difference. It’s just opened a lot of doors for me to get my story out to others.'
Unlike Jessie, Sheena had never served time in prison—but she knew firsthand the challenges of living with a felony record. (The sentence imposed for a felony can vary depending on the circumstances of the crime. In Sheena’s case, she received a five-year suspended sentence with probation.)
Sheena faced many hurdles fi
Unlike Jessie, Sheena had never served time in prison—but she knew firsthand the challenges of living with a felony record. (The sentence imposed for a felony can vary depending on the circumstances of the crime. In Sheena’s case, she received a five-year suspended sentence with probation.)
Sheena faced many hurdles fi
How Values Interrupt Violence
When 11-year-old Darrell Redmond saw the flashing blue lights, he went running. There had just been a shooting, an all-too-common event in his Portsmouth, Virginia, neighborhood. Darrell wasn’t involved in the incident. But that day, he found himself in the backseat of a police car for the first time.
Darrell met a barrage of questions from police. They assumed he had something to answer for. “Who did it? What’s going on? What do you know?”
But Darrell didn’t have answers. He felt afraid and a
Darrell met a barrage of questions from police. They assumed he had something to answer for. “Who did it? What’s going on? What do you know?”
But Darrell didn’t have answers. He felt afraid and a
Shattering Stigmas
For so long, throughout her teen years and young adulthood, Joy struggled with substance abuse. Drugs were one way to cope with domestic abuse she endured, and she landed behind bars several times. She reached her rock bottom when she was convicted for credit card fraud and sentenced to federal prison.
In 2005, Joy walked into Federal Medical Center in Carswell, Texas, to begin her sentence. She says she took time to process her choices and to “get right” with God there. She thought of her youn
In 2005, Joy walked into Federal Medical Center in Carswell, Texas, to begin her sentence. She says she took time to process her choices and to “get right” with God there. She thought of her youn
'I Am the Black Butterfly' - Transitional Housing
Black Butterfly House sits a few miles from downtown Minneapolis, a picturesque home with a garage, back deck, trimmed bushes, and modest front yard facing the main road. Its petite gray frame and gable roof don’t stand out among other homes on the street. But inside, it’s far from ordinary.
Amber can hardly believe the journey that led her to buy the house last year. She was conscious that as a Black woman, she was statistically much less likely to become a homeowner. As the daughter of a sing
Amber can hardly believe the journey that led her to buy the house last year. She was conscious that as a Black woman, she was statistically much less likely to become a homeowner. As the daughter of a sing
The Power of a Prosecutor: The Impact of Prosecutorial Discretion
Before he was Dr. Stanley Andrisse, Stanley was a young teen slipping into the legal system. Though he wasn't the first of his friends or siblings to get handcuffed, he might have been one of the youngest. The first time Stanley was arrested, he was 14. Soon he had his first felony conviction for selling drugs.
Stanley grew up in the Ferguson, Missouri, area—the same Ferguson that would gain national attention after the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown. In high school, Stanley earned decent grade
Stanley grew up in the Ferguson, Missouri, area—the same Ferguson that would gain national attention after the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown. In high school, Stanley earned decent grade
Matthew Charles and Ending Racial Inequity in the Justice System
Selling crack cocaine once sounded like a glamorous life to Matthew Charles, who grew up in low-income neighborhoods in North Carolina. Then he spent decades caught in the disparities of the justice system—disparities that inordinately impact Black men like Matthew.
In 1995, Matthew was arrested and ultimately sentenced to 35 years in prison—a harsh penalty for a nonviolent drug offense, due to the fact that he sold crack.
Crack and powder cocaine are almost identical chemically, but they have
In 1995, Matthew was arrested and ultimately sentenced to 35 years in prison—a harsh penalty for a nonviolent drug offense, due to the fact that he sold crack.
Crack and powder cocaine are almost identical chemically, but they have
47 felonies, 4 Incarcerations, 1 Life Redeemed
Tammy Franklin doesn't try to make much sense of her life story. By most standards, it's a miracle. She says simply, "I shouldn't be here."
By here, Tammy means the Oklahoma state prison where she sits sharing her story, a former prisoner with prison office keys in her pocket. By here, she also just means, "alive."
Many nights, the only light in her childhood home was the glow of the living room TV. Tammy would walk in to find her father drunk, if he was there at all. Her mom would be asleep o
By here, Tammy means the Oklahoma state prison where she sits sharing her story, a former prisoner with prison office keys in her pocket. By here, she also just means, "alive."
Many nights, the only light in her childhood home was the glow of the living room TV. Tammy would walk in to find her father drunk, if he was there at all. Her mom would be asleep o
Captivating Beauty: What I Learned in a Women’s Prison
I was a long way from home the last time I entered a prison. I took one last glimpse out the window before I signed the guest list: Emily Andrews. Prison Fellowship staff. 4:57 p.m.
Pencil, check. Notepad, check. Empty pockets, check and check. An officer motioned for me to step through the metal detector.
The marketing team at Prison Fellowship®, the nation’s largest outreach to prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, had sent me to be their eyes and ears at a commencement ceremony b
Pencil, check. Notepad, check. Empty pockets, check and check. An officer motioned for me to step through the metal detector.
The marketing team at Prison Fellowship®, the nation’s largest outreach to prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, had sent me to be their eyes and ears at a commencement ceremony b
Hello, My Name Is Felon.
Now imagine being known by that one mistake ― regardless of what you’ve done to take responsibility or make amends. You have to write it on the top of every application for employment or housing you ever fill out—for the rest of your life.
A FACE TO THE NAME
The land of the free incarcerates more people than any country in the world ― almost 2.2 million, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Ninety-five percent of those in state prisons will be released, facing widespread social stigm
A FACE TO THE NAME
The land of the free incarcerates more people than any country in the world ― almost 2.2 million, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Ninety-five percent of those in state prisons will be released, facing widespread social stigm
