Sunday, February 7, 2010

Recommended Reading

I just finished reading "Cain's Redemption: A Story Of Hope and Transformation in America's Bloodiest Prison" by Dennis Shere.

In his book, Shere tells about the incredible changes that have occurred at Angola Prison in Louisiana, a former 18,000 acre plantation that now is home to over 5,000 men, most of whom are serving life sentences. The prison is the largest maximum security prison in the U.S. There are over 1800 staff members who answer to a warden named Burl Cain.

Cain was raised in a Christian home and when he accepted his first job as a warden in another correctional facility his mother told him, “I raised you right and... you’ve got to be accountable to God. If those men have a chance to know Jesus, you are in control of their lives and you had better not fail!”

In 1995, Cain arrived at Angola, the bloodiest prison in America. He asked the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to open an extension seminary within the prison to serve the Christian inmates. Since that time, over 150 inmates have earned degrees in Ministry. Those individuals serve as pastors to inmates who attend churches on the prison grounds.

Cain believes that prisoners are human beings who deserve to know Jesus as their Savior. The combination of tough leadership skills and Cain's commitment to the Lord effected changes at Angola that are nothing short of miraculous. Under Warden Cain's supervision, Angola has become a peaceful prison where inmates live their lives with purpose working in various industries throughout the grounds. Cain believes God has led him every step of the way and he feels it's time for a revival in America's prison system.

Dennis Shere has done an excellent job of describing the philosophy of Burl Cain and how his love for the imprisoned has rehabilitated some of America's most violent offenders. An emotional and moving story that you won't soon forget.

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Please visit my website: http://www.TheWomenOfBlock12.com.

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Monday, February 1, 2010

Ohio's Prison Industries

The Ohio State Prison System supports programs that help prisoners train for a variety of jobs. Institutions across the state make American Flags, toilet paper, eyeglasses,and dentures. They also raise cattle and process the beef for the prison system saving the state $3.3 million a year.

According to an article in The Columbus Dispatch, inmates earn from $.47 and hour to $1.27 while learning job skills that will help them succeed once they are released. Recidivism rates for inmates who work in the prison industries is only 18 percent compared to the state average of 38 percent.

Read the entire article at: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/02/01/copy/z-apoh_prison_labor_0201.ART_ART_02-01-10_B4_PJGFFLK.html?sid=101

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Visit my website at: http://www.TheWomenOfBlock12.com

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