EIN: 62-0988294

Prison Fellowship Ministries

Leesburg, VA 20176

Andrew DeMillo
AP
November 30, 2006

Ark. begins faith-based inmate program

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4371555.html

Arkansas correction officials are dedicating a Bible-based program for female prisoners, but a national group said it's a risky move while a similar system is being challenged in federal court.

Forty-nine women have enrolled in the InnerChange Freedom Initiative at the Wrightsville prison, which officials will dedicate Friday.

Under the program, inmates live in a separate unit and attend classes on subjects including computer skills and anger management. They also participate in religious devotionals.

...The program, operated by Prison Fellowship Ministries, was dedicated for the Tucker Unit in June and 99 men are participating in the program...the women's program has a capacity for 50 prisoners and the men's unit can take 120.

The dedication comes as Prison Fellowship Ministries appeals a federal judge's order to cease its program at the Newton Correctional Facility in Iowa and repay the state $1.53 million. The Ministries also operate programs in Kansas, Minnesota and Texas.

Neela Banerjee
NY Times
June 3, 2006

Federal judge in Iowa rules Charles Colson prison program violated the separation of church and state

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/03/us/03faith.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

Says program used money from taxpayers to pay for areligious program that gave special privileges to inmates who accepted evangelical Christian teachings and terms

A federal judge in Iowa ruled Friday that a state-financed evangelical Christian program to help inmates re-enter society was "pervasively sectarian" and violated the separation of church and state...

The case was filed more than three years ago by Americans United for Separation of Church and State against the Iowa Department of Corrections and InnerChange Freedom Initiative, an organization affiliated with Prison Fellowship Ministries. Prison Fellowship was founded by Charles W. Colson, a close ally of President Bush and an influential evangelical who went to prison for his role in the Watergate cover-up.