Setting prisoners free takes a comprehensive plan

Jesus called for the release of prisoners and freeing the oppressed. I am not a Bible literalist, but I take the words of Jesus seriously. As a disciple and follower of Jesus, I believe I am expected to figure out how his call is to be accomplished in 2008. Since I live in Alaska, my Lord asks me to come up with some answers for Alaska.

Next year we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the State of Alaska. Our constitution has been regarded as one of the finest in America. In our constitution as originally adopted, Article One, Section 12 called for criminal administration based on two guiding principles — the need for protecting the public and rehabilitation.

For the first 35 years of our history, the State of Alaska ran a prison system. While not perfect, for the most part it was responsive to those standards.

In 1994 the citizens of Alaska added three more purposes to criminal administration. In a 1994 constitutional amendment, community condemnation, rights of victims and restitution from the offender were added to Section 12.

Over the past 14 years Alaska prisons have changed. There is more warehousing of prisoners. More prison employees have become rigid and punitive in attitude. Recidivism has exploded. The prison population has doubled.

This is hardly what Jesus had in mind. Yet his followers applaud rather than protest.

In 1992 a task force was commissioned by Alaska Christian Conference to study the Alaska Prison system. Its report was published in April 1994. As a part of my research for this column, I reread the Report to the Citizens of Alaska. The analysis still rings true and the task force’s recommendations support the standards of the teachings of Jesus.

The report was widely circulated, but never got serious notice from legislators or the governor. They were busy pushing the amendment to Article One, Section 12. Had the recommendations of the ACC report been followed, I truly believe the Alaska prison system would today be a fraction of its current size and that public safety would be increased, not diminished.

What did the report recommend? First, it called for a change of attitude. The people in prison are us! They are our brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, parents, cousins, neighbors and friends. Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as though he were a member of your own clan.” Jesus said, “The judgment you give is the judgment you get.” Jesus taught, “Do not try to take the speck out of your brother’s eye until you remove the log from your own.” When we judge to condemn, we are always wrong. Until we see those in prison as our valuable neighbors, we will get it wrong.

In last week’s column, I pointed out that 60 percent of the Alaska prison population will be released in one year or less. How we receive those leaving prisons back into our communities is critical. How do we welcome over 2,500 people back into Alaska society and help them become productive citizens?

No government bureaucracy will achieve the needed results by itself. However, prisons can be organized to facilitate the help that must come inevitably from the outside. Spaces that encourage regular visits by family, friends, ministers, social workers and other helping people are a must in prison design.

Building prisons in remote places that make public access difficult is a crime against us all.

A serious student of the Bible will recognize that hospitality is a key virtue that runs through both Old and New Testaments. Family, friends and churches are the key welcoming ingredients.

Every prisoner should have a comprehensive release plan that is worked out well ahead of release. A specific person should be ready to work with the departing prisoner. Housing arrangements need to be in place. If treatment plans are appropriate, those plans should be available from day one. Plans for work and transportation should be quickly facilitated.

If we give prime attention to the folks being released from prison, recidivism rates will drop, very quickly all the prisoners will be back from the prisons in Arizona and the building of a mega-prison at Point Mackensie will be irrelevant.

How about those who are serving longer terms? Education and training are the keys. A prisoner should be able to complete a high school diploma, a college degree or vocational training. With a thoughtful welcome, they will be headed to take their constructive place in our communities.

Since 1994, the operating budget for the Alaska prison system has doubled. The budget will be for a quarter billion dollars in 2009.

The Rev. Howard Bess is pastor of Church of the Covenant, an American Baptist church in Palmer. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.