The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

CCA has initially introduced these new faith programs at 15 CCA facilities. Plans already are underway to implement the program at all of CCA's more than 60 facilities within the next 12 months.

CEF, the world's largest mission agency ministering to children, is collaborating with CCA to develop and implement a correspondence faith program tailored for inmates and their children. The alliance with CCA is CEF's first major introduction on a broad scale into the corrections system. CEF has plans to introduce these newly-crafted faith materials within other corrections systems as well. To date, over 35,000 curriculum packets, in both English and Spanish, introducing the program have been distributed at CCA facilities in eight states. Inmates voluntarily sign up to receive weekly lesson plans and devotional books created by CEF. With the permission of the parent or guardian, age-appropriate material may also be sent by the CEF ministry to the inmates' children on a weekly basis. All correspondence is provided free of charge and distributed by mail. CCA is also making available to CCA correctional staff and their children CEF's existing correspondence faith program for the general public.

A recent Child Evangelism Fellowship study found that children of prisoners are seven times more likely to end up in prison themselves than other children from the same environment. With more than 2 million prisoners in America, it is estimated that more than 6 million children are currently at risk.

Dennis Smith, chaplain at CCA's Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility in Nashville, implemented the CEF program in December 2004 and received an overwhelming response, it was stated.

"The Child Evangelism Fellowship program is something the inmates can do for their children when they have no money and can't send them anything," Mr. Smith said. "They can enroll their children in the CEF program, enabling their children to receive materials that hopefully will enrich their lives."

CEF pamphlets initially have been provided to inmates in various CCA facilities in Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and New Mexico.

School of Christ International is an internationally-known organization that provides Bible study programs for prisons and jails in the United States, Russia, Africa and South America. SCI is providing all CCA prisons a comprehensive 155-lesson Bible study program and workbooks. SCI staff and volunteers will work with CCA facility chaplains and other CCA staff and volunteers to implement the program to CCA's inmates, on a voluntary basis. Numerous CCA facilities in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Tennessee are participating.

CCA provides voluntary faith services in all of its 63 facilities. The Company has partnered in recent years with a large number of faith-based organizations, including the Institute in Basic Life Principles, Champions for Life, Kairos Horizon, Good News Jail and Prison Ministry and Theotherapy.

CCA, in its desire to provide and enhance its chaplain and religious services for all inmates, will continue to develop alliances and partnerships with reputable, mainstream faith-based ministries of all faiths, it was stated. CCA's faith-based initiatives, including School of Christ International and Child Evangelism Fellowship, are programs that are available to the entire inmate population on a voluntary basis regardless of their religious and spiritual beliefs. There is no requirement to convert and/or revise their religious belief in order to enroll, participate and or complete the program.

For more information regarding CCA's chaplain and religious services, please contact John Lanz, director of special programs, at (615) 263-3112 or john.lanz@correctionscorp.com.

CCA is the nation's largest owner and operator of privatized correctional and detention facilities and one of the largest prison operators in the United States, behind only the federal government and four states. The company operates 63 facilities, including 38 company-owned facilities, with a total design capacity of approximately 67,000 beds in 19 states and the District of Columbia.

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_60952.asp