![\"Twin](\"https://i0.wp.com/lightinprison.sharethepractice.org/files/2021/05/1280px-Twin_Towers_Correctional_Facility.jpeg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1\")
Check out this excellent article from the Christian Science Monitor about an innovative program being pioneered in the Los Angeles County jail system addressing mental health:
\nFrom LA jail, two inmates pioneer care for mentally ill peers
\n\nThe results are beyond the expectations of everyone, from a top assistant sheriff for the county to the mental health professionals. Self-harming is six times less, compared with other units, according to Ms. Hubbell. Discharging the incarcerated men from the forensic inpatient hospital to this program, known as Forensic Inpatient (FIP) Stepdown, has reduced returns to the hospital by 35%. Beyond the data, you can see the difference in the patients\u2019 eyes and relaxed faces, she says. Outside their cells they are uncuffed (a deputy is always present), attending group therapy, and working as a team on \u201cdouble scrub\u201d Mondays, when Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Berumen assign chores to clean the two-story pods from top to bottom.
Read the entire article here: https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2021/0518/From-LA-jail-two-inmates-pioneer-care-for-mentally-ill-peers
\nPhoto of Twin Towers facility CC BY-SA 3.0 – Jjz3d83
\n", "content_text": "Check out this excellent article from the Christian Science Monitor about an innovative program being pioneered in the Los Angeles County jail system addressing mental health:\nFrom LA jail, two inmates pioneer care for mentally ill peers\nThe results are beyond the expectations of everyone, from a top assistant sheriff for the county to the mental health professionals. Self-harming is six times less, compared with other units, according to Ms. Hubbell. Discharging the incarcerated men from the forensic inpatient hospital to this program, known as Forensic Inpatient (FIP) Stepdown, has reduced returns to the hospital by 35%. Beyond the data, you can see the difference in the patients\u2019 eyes and relaxed faces, she says. Outside their cells they are uncuffed (a deputy is always present), attending group therapy, and working as a team on \u201cdouble scrub\u201d Mondays, when Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Berumen assign chores to clean the two-story pods from top to bottom.\nRead the entire article here: https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2021/0518/From-LA-jail-two-inmates-pioneer-care-for-mentally-ill-peers\nPhoto of Twin Towers facility CC BY-SA 3.0 – Jjz3d83", "date_published": "2021-05-19T14:54:17-07:00", "date_modified": "2021-10-26T20:11:17-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://lightinprison.sharethepractice.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://lightinprison.sharethepractice.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/lightinprison.sharethepractice.org/files/2021/05/1280px-Twin_Towers_Correctional_Facility.jpeg?fit=1280%2C853&ssl=1", "tags": [ "California", "Challenges and Solutions", "News", "Prison Healthcare", "USA" ] }, { "id": "https://lightinprison.org/?p=62", "url": "https://lightinprison.sharethepractice.org/2013/09/25/prayer-can-and-will-heal-our-california-prison-system/", "title": "Prayer can, and will, heal our California prison system", "content_html": "![\"Prison](\"https://i0.wp.com/lightinprison.sharethepractice.org/files/2013/07/prison-overcrowding1.jpg?resize=595%2C446&ssl=1\")
Spending more tax dollars on prisons is not the answer to averting crime or making our communities safer. And while more money needs to go into education, drug and mental health treatment, and other crime-prevention programs to help young people and ex-convicts lead productive lives, the ultimate answer is God\u2019s answer\u2013whereby redemption and peace is felt in each and every heart.
\nWe don\u2019t raise troublesome issues about our prisons and jails to be alarmists. We highlight issues that need our prayers.
\nAnd helping those behind bars to find new ways of thinking and being, in order to lead more productive lives, will require a HUGE effort to make this shift.
\nBut persistent prayer is up to the task. Nothing is impossible to God, as the Bible reveals. Let\u2019s take this at face value. And let\u2019s remember that prayer at its essence reveals God\u2019s thoughts to the listening heart. His answers produce the creativity, the insights, the breakthrough innovations and knowledge needed to reform our prison system and reform the heart of each and every inmate in our state prisons, county jails and youth facilities.
\nWhile Governor Brown’s inmate “realignment” plan isn’t perfect, it is reducing our prison populations by keeping lesser offenders in county facilities or on parole and, theoretically at least, strengthening drug abuse and other programs to cut down recidivism (return to crime) rates.
\nSadly, our prisons remain overcrowded. That’s why the courts ruled June 20 that another 9,600 non-violent, low-risk prisoners be released, even though most of that population have already been released. The remaining, nearly 90 percent of the current prison population, are there for serious or violent felonies.
\nCan prayer heal them? The short answer is “yes”. It already has. And many of this state’s prison chaplains can testify to the many lives changed, and redeemed through persistent prayer, which includes healing and tenderizing the hearts of the baddest of the bad.
\nOur work, whether we’re guards, administrators, government officials, judges or chaplains, is to appeal to God for His readily-available answers. And then be willing to put “self-interest” out of the way to better listen and implement His directions.
\nWe need enlightened efforts to solve our state’s prison problems. To solve overcrowding. To resolve poor inmate health issues. To reach our “at risk” youth in time to encourage them into a life of serving others on the right side of the law; and to reduce our state’s current recidivism rate of 65.1 percent, (the highest in the nation), by helping inmates find\u00a0purpose, meaning and fulfillment on the “outside”.
\nBut these enlightened efforts must, and will ultimately, come from prayer–from a source outside ourselves. Einstein famously said, “The mind that creates the problem cannot solve the problem”. How true. Let’s seek God’s answers. Healing our prisons is not beyond His skill or ability. Each of us, as God’s unique creation, is caused to know His thoughts. Directly. Intimately. Profoundly. His thoughts, when admitted, transform our character to be more in alignment with His. This is what will improve our efforts.
\nOur governor, and those serving us in our state’s prisons and jails, need our heartfelt prayers–so that they, like all of us, can better hear God’s wise and loving solutions.
\nThis site, Lightinprison.org, has one purpose: to enable each of us, regardless of our religious or philosophical persuasions, to more effectively pray to hear (and witness) God’s thoughts and solutions for our youth, for our prisons; for those who serve us in them, and for those incarcerated.
\nSo what is God revealing to you? Please share:
\n\n
\n", "content_text": "Photo released by California Department of Corrections\nSpending more tax dollars on prisons is not the answer to averting crime or making our communities safer. And while more money needs to go into education, drug and mental health treatment, and other crime-prevention programs to help young people and ex-convicts lead productive lives, the ultimate answer is God\u2019s answer\u2013whereby redemption and peace is felt in each and every heart.\nWe don\u2019t raise troublesome issues about our prisons and jails to be alarmists. We highlight issues that need our prayers.\nAnd helping those behind bars to find new ways of thinking and being, in order to lead more productive lives, will require a HUGE effort to make this shift.\nBut persistent prayer is up to the task. Nothing is impossible to God, as the Bible reveals. Let\u2019s take this at face value. And let\u2019s remember that prayer at its essence reveals God\u2019s thoughts to the listening heart. His answers produce the creativity, the insights, the breakthrough innovations and knowledge needed to reform our prison system and reform the heart of each and every inmate in our state prisons, county jails and youth facilities.\nWhile Governor Brown’s inmate “realignment” plan isn’t perfect, it is reducing our prison populations by keeping lesser offenders in county facilities or on parole and, theoretically at least, strengthening drug abuse and other programs to cut down recidivism (return to crime) rates.\nSadly, our prisons remain overcrowded. That’s why the courts ruled June 20 that another 9,600 non-violent, low-risk prisoners be released, even though most of that population have already been released. The remaining, nearly 90 percent of the current prison population, are there for serious or violent felonies.\nCan prayer heal them? The short answer is “yes”. It already has. And many of this state’s prison chaplains can testify to the many lives changed, and redeemed through persistent prayer, which includes healing and tenderizing the hearts of the baddest of the bad.\nOur work, whether we’re guards, administrators, government officials, judges or chaplains, is to appeal to God for His readily-available answers. And then be willing to put “self-interest” out of the way to better listen and implement His directions.\nWe need enlightened efforts to solve our state’s prison problems. To solve overcrowding. To resolve poor inmate health issues. To reach our “at risk” youth in time to encourage them into a life of serving others on the right side of the law; and to reduce our state’s current recidivism rate of 65.1 percent, (the highest in the nation), by helping inmates find\u00a0purpose, meaning and fulfillment on the “outside”.\nBut these enlightened efforts must, and will ultimately, come from prayer–from a source outside ourselves. Einstein famously said, “The mind that creates the problem cannot solve the problem”. How true. Let’s seek God’s answers. Healing our prisons is not beyond His skill or ability. Each of us, as God’s unique creation, is caused to know His thoughts. Directly. Intimately. Profoundly. His thoughts, when admitted, transform our character to be more in alignment with His. This is what will improve our efforts.\nOur governor, and those serving us in our state’s prisons and jails, need our heartfelt prayers–so that they, like all of us, can better hear God’s wise and loving solutions.\nThis site, Lightinprison.org, has one purpose: to enable each of us, regardless of our religious or philosophical persuasions, to more effectively pray to hear (and witness) God’s thoughts and solutions for our youth, for our prisons; for those who serve us in them, and for those incarcerated.\nSo what is God revealing to you? Please share:\n \n ", "date_published": "2013-09-25T09:20:23-07:00", "date_modified": "2023-07-10T20:03:25-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Light in Prison Editor", "url": "https://lightinprison.sharethepractice.org/author/lightinprisoneditor/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/465f620e81fe1afa651ab40817b86a03a072e6b155989d837f521fce962a56e0?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Light in Prison Editor", "url": "https://lightinprison.sharethepractice.org/author/lightinprisoneditor/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/465f620e81fe1afa651ab40817b86a03a072e6b155989d837f521fce962a56e0?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/lightinprison.sharethepractice.org/files/2013/07/prison-overcrowding1.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1", "tags": [ "California", "Challenges and Solutions", "News", "USA" ] }, { "id": "https://lightinprison.org/?p=315", "url": "https://lightinprison.sharethepractice.org/2013/09/13/praying-more-effectively-video/", "title": "Praying More Effectively (Video)", "content_html": "\n", "date_published": "2013-09-13T09:57:22-07:00", "date_modified": "2013-11-14T17:04:23-08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://lightinprison.sharethepractice.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://lightinprison.sharethepractice.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/lightinprison.sharethepractice.org/files/2013/09/Brian.jpg?fit=2230%2C1326&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Becoming a Chaplain", "Challenges and Solutions", "Videos" ] } ] }