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melissa.moon@wreg.com
(Memphis-7/16/09) One of the world's largest prison ministries is hoping to stop the cycle of of crime in Shelby County.
Prison Fellowship says next year it will introduce two new programs to help female prison inmates return to the community.
In the past programs like one that involves training rescue dogs have been used to help female prison inmates in Shelby County gain some new life skills. Prison Fellowship wants to do even more to help those inmates better themselves behind bars and continue to succeed one they get out.
"What many don't realize is when an inmate walks out the door all the have is a prison uniform and a check in their hands. A small check, maybe $35 with no way to cash it. No license and that's all they have," said Aime Vance with Prison Fellowship.
Thursday, Prison Fellowship asked local churches and community groups to be part of their In Prison Care mentoring program and also help assist inmates with everything from transitional housing and job placement once they're released.
"There is not a person in prison who doesn't want to come back must and most do and in large part because they go back into the same environment, because they go back into the same environment that created their behavior," said Sheriff Luttrell
Deandre Brown spent 25 months in prison for ID theft and bank fraud.
Brown says he found God and turned his life around, but is one of the lucky ones.
Now, he wants to help other inmates. He plans to work with Prison Fellowship to help them find work, a new home and a better life.
"I will be there when inmate is getting ready to come home after they come home. A bridge to make their transition back into society. To help them so they can be a positive influence on society," said DeAndre Brown with Lifeline to Success.
Brown says most inmates don't mind going back to prison, because they don't think they have any other choice, but he hopes to show them there is another option.
About 2,000 prisoners will be released to Shelby County this year. Prison Fellowship say it is estimated that about half of all crimes are committed by ex-prisoners.
For more news updates from the field as they happend follow me @ http://www.twitter.com/melissamoon3
- Prison Fellowship plans to introduce 2 new programs for prison inmates in Shelby County next year
- Programs will be geared toward female inmates to keep them from returning to prison
- Groups says half of all crimes are committed by ex-prisoners
melissa.moon@wreg.com
(Memphis-7/16/09) One of the world's largest prison ministries is hoping to stop the cycle of of crime in Shelby County.
Prison Fellowship says next year it will introduce two new programs to help female prison inmates return to the community.
In the past programs like one that involves training rescue dogs have been used to help female prison inmates in Shelby County gain some new life skills. Prison Fellowship wants to do even more to help those inmates better themselves behind bars and continue to succeed one they get out.
"What many don't realize is when an inmate walks out the door all the have is a prison uniform and a check in their hands. A small check, maybe $35 with no way to cash it. No license and that's all they have," said Aime Vance with Prison Fellowship.
Thursday, Prison Fellowship asked local churches and community groups to be part of their In Prison Care mentoring program and also help assist inmates with everything from transitional housing and job placement once they're released.
"There is not a person in prison who doesn't want to come back must and most do and in large part because they go back into the same environment, because they go back into the same environment that created their behavior," said Sheriff Luttrell
Deandre Brown spent 25 months in prison for ID theft and bank fraud.
Brown says he found God and turned his life around, but is one of the lucky ones.
Now, he wants to help other inmates. He plans to work with Prison Fellowship to help them find work, a new home and a better life.
"I will be there when inmate is getting ready to come home after they come home. A bridge to make their transition back into society. To help them so they can be a positive influence on society," said DeAndre Brown with Lifeline to Success.
Brown says most inmates don't mind going back to prison, because they don't think they have any other choice, but he hopes to show them there is another option.
About 2,000 prisoners will be released to Shelby County this year. Prison Fellowship say it is estimated that about half of all crimes are committed by ex-prisoners.
For more news updates from the field as they happend follow me @ http://www.twitter.com/melissamoon3
