Featured Issues:
Justice Fellowship is working hard to reform our laws and policies so that safety and justice prevail. These issues are our main focus right now:
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Constitutionality, the sanctity of life, erroneous convictions, public safety, and biblical teaching should all be considered in the contentious debates surrounding the death penalty.
The collateral consequences of convictions should protect public safety without causing unreasonable harm to people with criminal backgrounds.
Fair sentencing practices and and effective substance abuse treatment are necessary to reduce crowded prison populations and recidivism.
Faith-based and community initiatives combat the negative effects of prison culture and are a largely untapped resource pool for educational, vocational, and treatment services.
Prisoners need the support, accountability and encouragement that their family members can provide during incarceration and reentry.
Protecting public health requires delivering effective inmate medical care.
Prisons must charge fair telephone fees to allow inmates to maintain essential family relationships.
Youth in the criminal justice system should have programs that address their unique needs and equip them to be healthy, productive members of society.
Mentally ill prisoners must receive competent, comprehensive care in order to break cycles of recidivism.
Only behaviors that contradict moral law and have malicious intent should be criminalized.
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Prisons should make prevention of rape a top priority through increasing accountability for abusers. |
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Violence amongst inmates and between inmates and staff should be eliminated through training, accountability, and adequate programs.
Prison work programs should expand opportunities for inmates to work, learn useful skills, and earn wages while developing a good work ethic.
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Prisons and private organizations should help prepare inmates to live healthy, productive, law-abiding lives upon their return to society.
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Community supervision officials should respond to violations through swift sanctions that are determined by risk and outcome-oriented.
Extensive use of DNA to determine guilt and permanent storage of crime scene DNA are necessary to protect people from wrongful conviction.
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Protection of inmates' religious freedom creates a context for them to develop the spiritual health important for their successful rehabilitation and reentry.
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Sentencing reform can reduce prison overcrowding and recidivism through redirecting resources and energy towards rehabilitating offenders.
On-line registries and residency restrictions should protect communities without placing inappropriate burdens on ex-offenders attempting to reenter society.
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Attention to women's unique physical, psychological, and emotional needs must occur to protect this growing and vulnerable prison population.
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