Expanded Prison Ministry Opportunities

In their newly published report Life After Lockup, the Urban Institute provides an exhaustive look at the prison population in city and county jails. An opportunity for church based prison ministries exists in expanding their focus from State or Federal Penitentiaries to local jails. Local inmates experience a very high return to criminal behavior, have more immediate family needs and lack a support mechanism upon release to help them overcome the offending issues.

Local churches are well suited to provide much needed support to the inmate as well as their family during these relatively brief times of incarceration. A more expanded localized jail ministry is an excellent opportunity for church laity to organize around and serve this need that impacts the community at large.