At present, there are approximately 2.3 million men and women incarcerated in correctional facilities in the United States. The majority of the incarcerated have had some major trauma that led them to the criminal justice system.
Ninety-seven percent of incarcerated women in the United States have experienced physical or sexual trauma, while 85 percent of men have a background of street violence trauma and 75 percent had sexual abuse.
Trauma itself doesn’t determine outcome, as the brain responds to the environment that it is in. The response of an individual’s social group plays a critical role in determining who becomes a psychiatric casualty, pursues a life of criminal behavior or is spared. We humans are astonishingly vulnerable to our social groups.
The first year for the newly released is crucial. If there are family, friends and a good support group to welcome and journey with those just released, the result is usually positive. Without family, friends and a positive support group, these men and women are likely to end up back in jail or prison. The rate of recidivism is usually over 50 percent.
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden is starting a new prison ministry for the newly released called One Parish One Prisoner, which aims to break the cycle of recidivism. This is done by building welcoming faith communities who are aware of the obstacles those just released face, and to encourage them to persevere in obtaining a happy, faithful and fulfilling life.
An explanation of this program will be part of the annual diocesan Prison Ministry Conference, which will be held virtually from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Oct. 23. The conference, which has as its theme, “Solidarity and Prison Ministry,” will feature keynote speaker Dr. Kathryn Getek Soltis, director of the Center for Peace and Justice Education and assistant professor of Christian ethics at Villanova University, Villanova, Pa. She will discuss the Catholic social teaching principle of solidarity, and how it applies to the issue of mass incarceration.
To register for the conference or for more information, contact mary.cronin@camdendiocese.org. Registration is open until Oct. 18.
Sister Mary Cronin, D.M., is coordinator of prison ministry for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden.
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