Arkansas Faith-Based Pre-Release Program For Women Launched

Today Arkansas correctional officials will dedicate a faith-based pre-release program for women prisoners, according to the Associated Press. The program, InnerChange Freedom Initiative, will be operated by Prison Fellowship Ministries at the Wrightsville prison. A similar program for male prisoners is already operating in Arkansas. InnerChange in an Iowa prison has been found by a federal district court to be unconstitutional and the decision is currently on appeal to the 8th Circuit. (See prior posting.) Mark Earley, the program's CEO, says that unlike the Iowa program, the one in Arkansas is funded privately. The state pays only for housing and feeding the inmates. (See prior posting.)