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June 01, 2007
IA: Lawmakers cut funds for prison Bible program
Lawmakers cut funds for prison Bible program
Posted: Friday, June 1, 2007 11:16 AM CDT
DES MOINES (AP) — A Bible-based prison program at the state prison in Newton is in doubt after lawmakers decided not to renew the money to pay for it, The Des Moines Register reported in a copyright story today.
The program could be shut down July 1 because the Legislature decided not to renew its $310,000 state appropriation.
A bill signed May 23 by Gov. Chet Culver eliminated the money. The program’s existing appropriation ends June 30.
The Newton program is sponsored by Virginia-based Prison Fellowship Ministries.
It has been in talks with prison officials about using private donations to continue the program in the new fiscal year that begins July 1, but no decision has been reached, said Fred Scaletta, an Iowa prison spokesman.
Last year, U.S District Judge Robert Pratt ruled the program violated the First Amendment’s freedom of religion clause by using state funds to promote Christianity to inmates.
The order has not been enforced while an appeal in pending.
State Rep. Todd Taylor, D-Cedar Rapids, said he wants the faith-based treatment program terminated on July 1. Taylor is co-chairman of a state prison budget subcommittee.
“I think it is unconstitutional,” Taylor said.
The treatment program, known as the InnerChange Freedom Initiative, has operated at the Newton prison since October 1999. Inmates spend their days in work, education, prayer and Bible studies. A total of 132 prisoners participate, while another 61 prisoners are assigned to a community-based re-entry program.
A lawsuit brought by Americans United for Separation of Church and State has sought to shut down the program.
The case has attracted national media attention as a test of President Bush’s initiative for faith-based government services.
The Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Washington-based Americans United, said the InnerChange program should be closed.
“The good news is that the Iowa Legislature and the governor understand that this program generates significant constitutional problems,” Lynn said. “Private funding, though, does not address some of the issues the judge found unconstitutional, including the preferential treatment of prisoners in the program, the delegation of authority to a religious group, the exclusive use of certain prison property by this program.”
Similar treatment programs are sponsored by Prison Fellowship Ministries at prisons in Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Texas.
Norman Cox, vice president of Prison Fellowship Ministries and the InnerChange program, said he hopes an agreement can be reached with Iowa prison officials to allow the Newton program to remain in operation.
“We believe it is very effective. We have a good relationship with the Department of Corrections and we have developed good relationships in the community,” Cox said.
http://www.newtondailynews.com/articles/2007/06/01/news/local8.txt
Posted by lois at June 1, 2007 11:49 PM