Programs A-E
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A Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at your local
correctional facility. See
list of prison units and/or training schools at the end of this
pamphlet. Academic
Education Programs Tutoring opportunities are available for volunteers.
Contact Volunteer Coordinator at your local correctional
facility, the Chaplain at one of the five youth development centers, or
the Administrative Services Assistants at one of twelve detention
centers. Adopt-an-inmate
Program "Adopt-an-inmate" to recognize significant
dates and events in their lives such as birthdays or wedding
anniversaries that take place while he/she is in prison. Advocacy
Programs The Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention provides Advocacy Services to ensure the rights and
responsibilities of adjudicated juveniles in the states' youth
development centers and juveniles within the regional juvenile detention
centers--ensuring that these students receive appropriate, quality
treatment characterized by adequate, individualized treatment and
education service delivery consistent with the best interest of juvenile
clients and public safety. Since 1989, formalized advocacy in the Division has
reduced potential liability to the State, enhanced agency credibility,
maximized interagency cooperation in service delivery, improved public
relations, educated staff to the need to individualize services further,
and insured service delivery consistent with statutes, rules, policies,
and standards. Advocacy
Services continues to investigate alleged claims of abuse or neglect,
monitor use of restrictive interventions, and make recommendations for
improved child-centered policies and procedures and
service delivery. For information write or call:
Advocacy Services, Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention, 410 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27610.
Phone: 919/733-3388. Aftercare The heart of AIM’s work is helping incarcerated
mothers and their children develop and maintain strong bonds.
AIM is committed to two key principles: women’s empowerment and
children’s well-being. As
an ecumenical effort, AIM provides transportation two Saturdays a month
for children in the Atlanta area to visit their mothers at the state
women’s prison nearly three hours away.
Games, story telling, lunch at a restaurant and specialized
attention from trained volunteers make the ride a productive time.
Once inside the prison, children visit their mothers for three
hours in a special children’s visiting room, which resembles a child
care center and where no guards are present. These visits allow the mothers to maintain parental roles in
their children’s lives. Children whose mothers are in prison face formidable
challenges to their self-esteem. AIM
developed the Children’s Counseling Project to help children deal with
the feelings of loss, anger, embarrassment and low self-esteem that are
often associated with their mothers’ incarceration.
Through play therapy and individual and group counseling,
children learn to express themselves. Recreational, educational and
cultural enrichment activities further enhance the children’s
interpersonal coping skills, which in turn reduces the potential for
problems at home and in school. Address:
61 8th Street, N.W., Atlanta, GA 30309, (949) 881-8291 Alpha Course The
Alpha Course is a 15-session, ten-week practical introduction to the
Christian faith. It was
created to serve all denominations, traditions and backgrounds.
It is a simple, dynamic and effective way of presenting the
message of Jesus Christ in a clear and non-threatening manner to people
from all walks of life – particularly to those with no faith at all
and to those who do not go to regular religious services. Alpha
North America, F.D.R. Station, P. O. Box 5209, New York, NY 10150,
888-949-2574 alphana@aol.com Churches can offer to judges and courts a variety of
effective alternatives to incarceration for criminal behavior.
Alternatives require the support of legislation.
Churches organized ecumenically can have impact on legislators.
Intensive Probation Supervision using volunteers, house arrest,
work/school release, deferred sentencing are all effective alternatives
to incarceration for certain offenses. Alternative
Punishment Programs St. Paul said, "Let the thief no longer steal,
but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his hands, so that he
may be able to give to those in need."
Overcrowding of our prisons makes this program mandatory.
It is also less expensive and far more redemptive than
incarceration. It also
provides for victim restitution and helps the prisoner work through
guilt in a constructive way. Western
Carolinians for Criminal Justice working for alternative sentencing have
helpful information. Contact
United Methodist Ms. Ellen Clarke-Sayer, 24 Cumberland Ave., Asheville,
NC 28801. Phone:
704/253-1136. Other United
Methodists working in alternatives for women are Ms. Marilyn Mink at the
Guilford County Women's Residential Center.
Phone: 910/273-4695 and Ms. Mabel Topping, 1201 Berry Bridge Rd.,
Charlotte, NC 28226 at Echo House in Charlotte.
Phone: 704/847-8648. Amends
Ministry Amends Ministry, located in Greensboro, NC, is a program that addresses the needs of prison inmates upon being paroled, giving them a place to live and grow in the faith while assisting them in job search, transportation to the job, along with a secure place to live with other Christian brothers. The goal is to assist those paroled in making their transition back into society as self-reliant citizens and productive taxpayers. The program offers a substance-free, supportive Christian living environment, life counseling, transportation, and job interviews. Amends Ministry, Rev. Dewey J. Massey, 3626 Mosby Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 910-855, 5409. American
Friends Service Committee Provides support and training to grassroots peace and
justice groups. Address: Dayton Area Office, 915 Salem Avenue, Dayton,
OH (513) 278-4225 American
Friends Service Committee Devoted to building a just and peaceful world.
Also, playing key roles in the National Coalition to Abolish the
Death Penalty. Address:
National Criminal Justice Program, 1501 Cherry Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19102, (215) 241-7130 Address:
730 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA.
Phone: (404) 876-5561 Yearly project by Prison Fellowship to provide
Christmas gifts for children of incarcerated persons. The program allows for initial introduction of volunteers to
those family members who are caring for children of inmates close to or
associated with their community. Contact
Prison Fellowship, P. O. Box 58112, Raleigh, NC 27658.
Phone: (919) 781-8116 or 1-800-445-5244. B Bible Study Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at your local
correctional facility, the Chaplain at youth development centers, or the
administrative services assistant at the detention centers. Biblical/Theological
Perspectives The
gospel calls us to expressions of redemption rather than retribution,
reconciliation rather than vengeance, even when society around us may be
calling for something quite different.
The New Testament includes specific reference to ministry to
prisoners. Read: Matt.
5:38-44; Matt. 25:36; Rom. 12:16-21; Heb. 13:3; John 8:3-11. Birthday Gifts/Celebration Books for
Prison/Youth Development Centers/Detention Center Libraries Contact the Programs Supervisor/Program Director at
your local correctional facility, the chaplain at youth development
centers, or the administrative services assistants at the detention
centers. Building
Wide Church Awareness and Support United Methodist congregations and individual members
are working to increase the awareness and commitment to prison and jail
ministries and prison reform efforts in their respective areas. C Chaplain Assistant For the Division of Prison, Department of
Corrections, contact: Religious
Services Section, Division of Prisons, P. O. Box 29540, Raleigh,
27626-0540. Phone:
919/733-3226. For the Department of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention, contact: Department
of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 410 South Salisbury
Street, Raleigh, NC 27610. Phone:
919/733-3388. Chaplain
Intern Chaplain interns are usually provided for the
Division of Prisons and the Department of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention through the theological schools/seminaries within
the state. Schools that
have participated include The Divinity School of Duke University,
Durham, NC, and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest,
NC. These internships are
most often under the auspices of the Field Placement or Field Education
Programs of the respective graduate schools.
For more information, contact one of the chaplains in the
Division of Prisons or the Department of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention. For the Division of Prison, Department of
Corrections, contact: Religious
Services, Division of Prisons, PO Box 29540, Raleigh, 27626-0540.
Phone: 919/733-3226. For the Department of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention, contact: Department
of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 410 South Salisbury
Street, P. O. Box 29527, Raleigh, NC 27610. Phone: 919/733-3388. Chaplain's Fund Chatham
County Dispute Settlement Program Opportunity
for support training and involvement in conflict management mediation. Children of Inmates Program Christmas Gift/Items for Distribution Church Representative Coalition to Stop Gun ViolencePurpose is to ban the sale of handguns and assault
weapons to private individuals. Address:
100 Maryland Avenue, NE, Washington, DC, (202) 544-7190. Community-Based
Alternatives (juveniles) Article 24A of the North Carolina Juvenile Code (G.S.
Chapter 7A) enacted in 1975, established the framework for the Office of
Juvenile Justice Community-Based Alternatives (CBA) Program.
Included is a requirement to develop evaluation standards, an
ongoing assessment of youth needs, and a comprehensive process for
reporting the overall effectiveness of services developed in response to
the state's efforts to serve troubled youth.
CBA promotes in each county and inter-agency process
intended to: (1) identify youth needs; (2) plan and implement programs
to address those needs; and (3) monitor and evaluate program
effectiveness. Some 486
local programs are directed toward prevention and intervention before
problem behaviors require removal of youth to secure residential
treatment programs in training school. CBA Funds may be used for treatment, intervention or
prevention services in any of the following types of programs:
Group Homes, Specialized Foster Care, Temporary Shelter Care,
Temporary Specialized Foster Care, Counseling, Psychological Services to
Juvenile Court, Crisis Intervention, Adult Volunteers,
Wilderness/Adventure Programs, Home-Based Family Services, Prevention
Programs, Restitution/Community Service, High Risk Community Programs,
and Guided Growth Programs. For
more information, call: Community
Services, Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 410
Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27610.
Phone: 919/733-3388. Community Leave Sponsorship Community Service Conference
Committee on Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries A
petition approved by the 1984 General Conference called for the
development of a comprehensive plan for prison ministry and Prison
reform, coordinated through the General Council on Ministries and
including participation of the General Boards of Discipleship, Church
and Society, and Higher Education and Ministry. Annual
Conferences are encouraged to establish a Committee on Criminal Justice
and Mercy Ministries (CJAMM) to accomplish the following: (1) raise
awareness and generate local church involvement; (2) identify existing
programs; (30 promote criminal justice ministries; and (4) serve as a
resource and connectional link with local churches, general program
agencies, and ecumenical groups, and use prison ministry and prison
reform resources made available through the general agencies. The
purpose is to promote a ministry to persons of all genders and ages who
are in prison, to the families of those in prison, and to the victims of
crime and their families and to be an advocate for prison concerns.
The CJAMM committee may relate to the board of global ministries and/or the board of church and society, which
shares social justice concerns. The
results of the work in this area will be reported to the annual
conference. Conference
Speakers Bureau Rev. Bruce Pate, Mr. Pat Ford (919-847-8671 (H),
919-461-5027 (O), or Ms. Linda Harris.
The Methodist Building, P. O. Box 10955, Raleigh, NC 27605.
919-832-9560 or WATS 1-800-849-4433. Correctional
Officers and Staff Concerted effort needs to be directed toward a
ministry with administrators as well as other systems staff.
Churches may bring pressure on legislatures to raise standards
and increase pay incentives for institutional personnel and upgrade
training and continuing education opportunities.
We need more churchmen and churchwomen in the criminal justice
system, and the church needs to support them in their attempts to live
out their Christian calling. Keeping
a balance of justice (and restraint of the heartless), with mercy and
hope for an offender's future is very difficult.
United Methodist District Judge Ray Walton has helpful knowledge
and counsel. His address
is: Judge Ray Walton, P. O. Box 11028, Southport, NC 28461.
United Methodist Leon Morrow is Superintendent of the Western
Correctional Center, P. O. Drawer 1439, Morganton, NC 28655.
Phone: 704/437-8335. Criminal
Justice and Mercy Ministries The General Conference of 1988 recognized the
importance of our involvement in Criminal Justice Ministries.
Pleas for greater participation on the part of main-line churches
have been coming from the Chaplains for a long time.
United Methodism has certain gifts of theology, methodology,
balance, structure, evangelical spirit, ecumenical approach, etc., which
are greatly needed in carrying out criminal justice ministries.
Now God's call, the world's need, and our gifts have converged
and come to us as a mandate. Our purpose as the Criminal Justice and Mercy
Ministries (CJAMM) of the United Methodist Church will be to help
implement the General Conference mandate.
We will work with the General Council on Ministries Committee and
the boards, but our focus will be on implementation in Annual
Conferences, Districts, local churches and the Jurisdictions.
Address: CJAMM, Dr.
Jerry D. Murray, Director, 1001 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104,
910-722-4970 or 910-377-9864. Criminal
Justice Month Criminal
Justice Month is February in North Carolina. Criminal
Justice Partnership Program In conjunction with the passage of Structured Sentencing, the General Assembly also enacted the State-County Criminal Justice Partnership Act to establish local community correction programs. By statute, the Department of Correction awards community corrections grants to counties that apply for funding. Criminal Justice ReformSince the days when John Wesley referred to the
prisons of England as "squalid, stinking holes," people called
Methodists have demonstrated a concern for criminal justice reform.
As far back as 1940, the Social Creed of the Methodist Church
called for 'the application of the redemptive principle to the treatment
of offenders." Criminal
Justice System Attend city, justice and circuit court proceedings.
Invite a judge, lawyer or law enforcement official to speak and
to participate in question and answer session on the court system in
your state. Do this with
various groups in your church. Invite local legislative representatives to speak on current
proposed legislation dealing with criminal justice and correction. D DART (Drug
and Alcohol Rehabilitation Treatment) DART - Drug/Alcohol Recovery Treatment program.
DART is now administered by the Division of Alcohol and Chemical
Dependency. Among its
responsibilities is a 35-day treatment process available to inmates
based upon either a judicial recommendation or a needs assessment by
prison staff. Contact Tom
Invester, DART Program Administrator, 831 W. Morgan Street, Raleigh, NC
27603. Telephone:
919-715-3786. Death Penalty Deferred Prosecution Program Disciple
Bible Outreach Ministries of North Carolina, Inc. (Joint Ministry of the
North Carolina and Western North Carolina Conferences) Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries seeks to establish Disciple Bible Study programs, supported by local congregations, in prisons throughout North Carolina. The Disciple Bible Study is a 34-session Bible Study developed by the United Methodist Publishing House to help Christians in prison to become disciples and equip them for Christian Service among the Christian population. It seeks to provide a church home for prisoners who are paroled. Prison requirements include: (1) a prison with a stable population and easy access for leaders, (2) prison chaplain who are willing partners in the program, and (3) a core group of inmates who are committed to Bible study. Church requirements include (1) churches will to welcome inmates as children of God and make them feel wanted, (2) churches willing to offer financial assistance for videos, workbooks and study Bibles, and (3) pastors and church leaders supportive of the program. Leader requirements: (1) Trained leaders to conduct 34 sessions of Disciple Bible Study, (2) become civilian volunteers (CV) and take inmates out on passes to church and other approved activities, (3) meet with inmates on an individual basis for counseling, (4) be willing to entertain inmates in their homes and break bread in Christian fellowship, (5) Have spouses and other family members who are supportive, and (6) leaders are asked (not) to attend parole hearings nor provide letters of recommendation for parole. Contact Person: LuAnn H. Charlton, Eastern Office, 106 S. Hughes Street, Apex, NC 27502, 919-367-9668. E-mail: discipleeast@nccumc.org Ecumenical
and Joint Action United Methodists will work ecumenically, both with
state and local councils of churches, other denominations, and with
action groups such as Yokefellows, Prison Fellowship, Southern Coalition
for Jails and Prisons and the National Interreligious Task Force on
Criminal Justice for effective ministry. Education
Opportunities Many community colleges offer pre-GED, GED, and
college courses at local units. There
are also vocational courses at some institution; such as: office
practices, masonry, carpentry, electrical and industrial repair. Enterprise Enterprise programs involve inmates in an industrial
job on site at the prison. Several
prisons have Enterprise plants which perform a broad range of
industrial-type services. These
programs provide inmates with job skills, as well as some income to
assist in the payment of court-ordered debts.
The products and services produced by Enterprise activities also
help generate income for the prison system itself to offset some of the
cost of the taxpayers. Epiphany Ministry, Inc. is an ecumenical Christian
ministry for young men and women who are in the custody of a Juvenile
Justice Facility. The
weekend models on which it is based are:
Kairos Prison Ministry, Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Chrysalis,
Happening and Cross. Our
purpose is to manifest God’s love to incarcerated youth, known as
“Stars” through a three-day short course in Christianity and an
ongoing follow-up program. Each
Epiphany weekend involves a team of adults and youth from the Christian
community who work together to show the love of God to those attending.
Address: 1512 Center
Point Road, Suite 201, Birmingham, AL 35215. Contact Person:
Peggy New 843-248-8835 or Leslie Womack (910-610-1248). NATEPIFANY@aol.com
or www.epiphanyministry.com
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