Frequently Asked Questions

Why help prisoners who’ve committed crimes?  Can the community benefit?

As a Christian organization, Prison Fellowship International believes that all people have value and are loved by God.  So while others may dismiss convicted prisoners as a lost cause, Prison Fellowship works to reach out to these marginalized men and women and help them to truly change from the inside. 

And not all prisoners are guilty of a crime.  Due to lack of resources in some third-world countries, many prisoners may wait years before their case ever comes to trial, sometimes serving more than their sentence would have warranted even if they had been convicted of a crime.

Prisons all over the world are filled with hundreds of thousands of inmates who will someday be released back into their communities.  Numerous studies indicate that nearly 70 percent of released prisoners will commit another offence and return to prison within three years.  PFI’s faith-based prison units and other programs are helping to improve those statistics, which will make these communities safer for everyone.

How do the individual ministries operate?

PF national organizations are self-governed, self-funded and volunteer-based.  PFI is non-sectarian, working throughout the Christian community.

Who is helped by Prison Fellowship?

PF serves hundreds of thousands of prisoners, ex-prisoners, victims and their families, helping to meet their spiritual and temporal needs.  In addition to PF’s in-prison and aftercare programs for prisoners and ex-prisoners, PF also provides emotional and financial support to the families of prisoners, day-care, educational projects and safe-haven homes for children of prisoners, and victim-offender mediation programs for victims and offenders.  PF works to bring hope and foster reconciliation in the lives of those affected by crime.

What do Prison Fellowship organizations do for people in prison?

Outreach:  PF ministries provide a variety of in-prison services, including:  prison visitation, in-prison Bible studies, seminars, mentoring, educational training, work-skills and life-skills training, and counseling.

Aid distribution:  Prisoners in developing nations are often not given basic necessities such as food and clothing.  In such countries PF provides needed aid.

Medical care:  With the help of volunteer doctors, nurses, dentists and optometrists, Prison Fellowship ministries are helping to care for prisoners who do not have access to medical care.  PFI’s Global Assistance Program mobilizes volunteer medical personnel to provide medical treatment to suffering prisoners around the world and offer technical assistance that leads to long-term and sustained solutions in the prisons.

What services does Prison Fellowship International provide PF ministries?

As an association, PFI provides support services to member organizations through its secretariat offices in Washington, D.C. and Singapore and its regional offices in Africa, Europe and the Pacific.  PFI member services include organizational and program consultation, communications, leadership training, program development, humanitarian relief projects and organizing international forums.

Is there any way of measuring the success of Prison Fellowship’s work?

Yes.  Studies in England, New Zealand and the United States have all reported that PF’s faith-based prison units have markedly reduced recidivism rates compared to the standard average.  In a published study, J.J. DiIulio, Professor of Politics and Public Affairs at Princeton University, wrote, “It’s remarkable how much good empirical evidence there is that religious belief can make a positive difference. It is intellectually irresponsible to ignore the “faith factor” in tackling social problems.”

A 2003 evaluation study of The InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) program in Texas by the Criminal Justice Policy Council reported that: “Offenders completing (referred to as “graduates” by IFI) the program had significantly lower recidivism rates (8% recidivism after two years) than the comparison groups (20% for the matched group).”

A study by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences found that inmates who participated in 10 or more PF Bible studies showed a recidivism rate of just 14 percent compared to the non-participants in the study who had a recidivism rate of 41 percent.

What is “restorative justice”?

Restorative justice is a theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused or revealed by criminal behavior. Practices and programs reflecting restorative justice will respond to crime by: (a) identifying and taking steps to repair harm, (b) involving all parties, and (c) transforming the traditional relationship between communities and their governments in responding to crime.

PFI’s Centre for Justice and Reconciliation, the justice reform section of Prison Fellowship International, has developed internationally recognized expertise in restorative justice.  In this capacity, PFI consults directly with governments and NGOs, offering training, consultation and strategic planning. 

How many countries have Prison Fellowship ministries?

Prison Fellowship International has chartered ministries in over 100 countries, representing every region in the world.