Perhaps one of the biggest tragedies I see happening today with the prison system...
...is the number of youths that are coming into the system with long sentences.
We are living in an age of "Zero Tolerance." It's obvious to me that it has become politically correct to show as little mercy as possible, and many times none at all.
But when a young man, ages fourteen to eighteen, comes to prison with a sentence of 20 to 60 years or more, with virtually no hope for an early release, his life is about over.
Unless something radical happens in the life of each young prisoner to give him hope and a reason to remain "positive," over time he will, more than likely, settle into a state of despondency and hopelessness.
He will probably be forced at some point into joining a gang. If he does join one of these violent prison gangs, he will be doing so for probably all the following reasons: fear and protection; peer pressure; a need for companionship; a need to belong to a group to replace the missing family unit; or a need to have a higher status in the prison's hierarchy. For even in prison no one wants to be thought of as an "outcast."
And to me these are all forms of duress. But he joins, nonetheless. For to be alone is to be unprotected. To not have a gang affiliation is to increase one's potential to be victimized.
No one wants to spend years being bullied and pushed around, or to be raped, robbed or tormented continually. So eventually he will join. He will take his vows. He will do his acts of violence and be assaultive to other prisoners, and even the staff, in order to "make rank" and impress his gang's leader.
Furthermore, he will be doomed to spend what was supposed to be the most productive period of his life, living in a cell. He will have to work tirelessly and fight constantly to keep his reputation. He will most likely live a life of rebellion, anger, and complete defiance to all authority.
These things will be this young man's unhappy lot in prison. With his lengthy prison sentence, there is literally no escape. He will be locked in a vicious cycle with no way out and no end in sight.
Moreover, I am not saying all this to sound negative. But from what I have seen over the years, this is pretty much how it will be.
For even over time his family, if he has one, may also forget about him as they go on with their lives. The letters and visits, if he ever got any, will begin to diminish. As the years pass this young man may become just another forgotten soul buried behind the walls and wires.
Yet this is why, I believe, it is so important to have active and well-established Christian programs and people-loving ministries coming into the prisons, juvenile detention centers and training schools. For it is, in these seemingly hopeless and depressing situations, that God can do His greatest works.
I know that the Gospel is still the "Good News" no matter where it is being shared. And Jesus is still able to heal the brokenhearted and to set at liberty those who are being held captive by the power of sin, and by the crushing oppressiveness of this world's system (Luke 4:18).
A young man or woman who gets introduced to Jesus Christ and then begins to have a personal relationship with Him, can receive a level of hope and peace as well as a sense of purpose that gangs and crime cannot give.
Of course there is also the need for education. It is imperative to teach these youths how to read and write better, as many of them cannot read or write very well. A majority probably dropped out of school altogether. But this is for the "professionals" and "experts" to figure out.
As for me, however, my prayer is that prison and youth centered ministries will continue to be welcomed into these facilities, also that these ministries will flourish.
One thing the Bible has taught me is the unfathomable worth of every human soul. While the effects of the violent crimes a young man commits cannot be reversed and the damage not undone, God can still come and work a miracle. He can save that prisoner's soul and change his heart.
Thus, while many in society trumpet "Zero Tolerance" at all costs, and while severe punishment is sometimes deserved, Jesus Christ still wishes to impart mercy. He does have a plan to bring redemption and salvation to our castaway youth; and this by active prison ministries which are mostly comprised of lay people.
If anything, these ministries need as much prayer, support and encouragement as possible. Their labor of love is never in vain.
D.B.
We are living in an age of "Zero Tolerance." It's obvious to me that it has become politically correct to show as little mercy as possible, and many times none at all.
But when a young man, ages fourteen to eighteen, comes to prison with a sentence of 20 to 60 years or more, with virtually no hope for an early release, his life is about over.
Unless something radical happens in the life of each young prisoner to give him hope and a reason to remain "positive," over time he will, more than likely, settle into a state of despondency and hopelessness.
He will probably be forced at some point into joining a gang. If he does join one of these violent prison gangs, he will be doing so for probably all the following reasons: fear and protection; peer pressure; a need for companionship; a need to belong to a group to replace the missing family unit; or a need to have a higher status in the prison's hierarchy. For even in prison no one wants to be thought of as an "outcast."
And to me these are all forms of duress. But he joins, nonetheless. For to be alone is to be unprotected. To not have a gang affiliation is to increase one's potential to be victimized.
No one wants to spend years being bullied and pushed around, or to be raped, robbed or tormented continually. So eventually he will join. He will take his vows. He will do his acts of violence and be assaultive to other prisoners, and even the staff, in order to "make rank" and impress his gang's leader.
Furthermore, he will be doomed to spend what was supposed to be the most productive period of his life, living in a cell. He will have to work tirelessly and fight constantly to keep his reputation. He will most likely live a life of rebellion, anger, and complete defiance to all authority.
These things will be this young man's unhappy lot in prison. With his lengthy prison sentence, there is literally no escape. He will be locked in a vicious cycle with no way out and no end in sight.
Moreover, I am not saying all this to sound negative. But from what I have seen over the years, this is pretty much how it will be.
For even over time his family, if he has one, may also forget about him as they go on with their lives. The letters and visits, if he ever got any, will begin to diminish. As the years pass this young man may become just another forgotten soul buried behind the walls and wires.
Yet this is why, I believe, it is so important to have active and well-established Christian programs and people-loving ministries coming into the prisons, juvenile detention centers and training schools. For it is, in these seemingly hopeless and depressing situations, that God can do His greatest works.
I know that the Gospel is still the "Good News" no matter where it is being shared. And Jesus is still able to heal the brokenhearted and to set at liberty those who are being held captive by the power of sin, and by the crushing oppressiveness of this world's system (Luke 4:18).
A young man or woman who gets introduced to Jesus Christ and then begins to have a personal relationship with Him, can receive a level of hope and peace as well as a sense of purpose that gangs and crime cannot give.
Of course there is also the need for education. It is imperative to teach these youths how to read and write better, as many of them cannot read or write very well. A majority probably dropped out of school altogether. But this is for the "professionals" and "experts" to figure out.
As for me, however, my prayer is that prison and youth centered ministries will continue to be welcomed into these facilities, also that these ministries will flourish.
One thing the Bible has taught me is the unfathomable worth of every human soul. While the effects of the violent crimes a young man commits cannot be reversed and the damage not undone, God can still come and work a miracle. He can save that prisoner's soul and change his heart.
Thus, while many in society trumpet "Zero Tolerance" at all costs, and while severe punishment is sometimes deserved, Jesus Christ still wishes to impart mercy. He does have a plan to bring redemption and salvation to our castaway youth; and this by active prison ministries which are mostly comprised of lay people.
If anything, these ministries need as much prayer, support and encouragement as possible. Their labor of love is never in vain.
D.B.