Texas, a Bible Belt state, is known for its religious fervor. Churches and ministries dot the land ,and a deep belief in God prevails in good times and in bad. Ministers have set up various programs to help people from all walks of life, and ex-offenders are no exception.
A June 28-30, 2010 convergence of faith-based groups, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, businesses and non-profit organizations met in San Antonio to forge a working bond among those concerned about the successful reentry of formerly incarcerated persons. The gathering was the focal point of Out4Life, an organization founded by Prison Ministries to offer aid when an individual leaves prison.
Calling for mentors for the newly released, Jerry Cabluck, the founder of the Welcome Back/Tarrant County ministry, recognized that faith can go only so far. Cabluck believes that mentoring can give the ex-offender the confidence he or she needs to overcome challenges that may impede a successful reentry.
Tarrant County receives approximately 6,000 ex-offenders a year. Many of those released were brought up with strong religious convictions, and prison ministries are devoted to keeping those religious tenants alive. Tommie Dorsett the executive director of Prison Fellowship Texas urged that all reentry initiatives join together, whether religion-based or not, so as to create a greater impact on reducing recidivism, and removing obstacles such as lack of housing and employment, and substance abuse issues. Texas has 797,000 prisoners which cost the taxpayers $2.96 billion a year. 95% of those prisoners will be released back into their communities at some point. Out4Life believes that a strong coalition of faith-based groups and non-religious organizations acting together can end the high recidivism rate that is a major public safety concern.
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