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BELIEFNET PICKS
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Note: These sites are not sponsored or maintained by Beliefnet.
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These religious and secular organizations minister to and support prison inmates and their families.
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GENERAL
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Prisoners.com
A nonprofit education, information, and charity organization that assists prisoners and their families. Provides information to volunteers who want to help prisoners with legal assistance, correspondence, and visitation.
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Prison Activist Resource Center
Progressive site for information on prisons, criminal prosecution, and racism in the justice system. Supports activists who work for change in the prison system and for prisoners' human and civil rights.
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Lamp of Hope Project
Founded by Texas death row inmates, the Lamp of Hope Project tries to educate the public about the death penalty and support vicitms' and prisoners' families. Publishes the Death Row Journal.
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Books for Prisoners
From the American Friends Service Committee, a listing of organizations that send donated books on general topics or religious and spiritual topics to prison inmates.
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CHRISTIAN
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Prison Congregations of America
Establishes mainline congregations in American prisons. Currently runs nine prison congregations in seven states. Its mission is to provide American mainline congregations a way to engage in prison ministry and to allow inmates to participate in Christian communities.
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Families with Loved Ones in Prison
A Florida nonprofit that assists the families of people in prison. Encourages prison inmates to maintain family ties. Provides counseling on family issues, support groups, public education, and more.
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Prison Fellowship Ministries
Christian prison ministry founded by Chuck Colson. Volunteers minister to prisoners, ex-inmates, victims, and their families. Projects include leading Bible studies and in-prison seminars, assisting crime victims, mentoring at-risk youth and ex-prisoners. Also runs a penpal program.
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Focus Prison Ministries
A non-denominational Christian prison ministry headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn. Goal is to helps prison inmates develop a relationship with Jesus Christ while in prison, then help inmates' transition to life outside of prison.
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JEWISH
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Jewish Prisoner Services International
Volunteer outreach program for Jewish prisoners. Makes Jewish educational, religious, cultural and spiritual resources available to prisoners, and formulate guidelines for service to Jewish inmates and their families before, during and after incarceration. Runs an inmate penpal program, provides Jewish chaplaincy to prisoners and their familities, and provides other assistance.
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MUSLIM
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Muslim Inmates Program
Sponsored by the Islamic Assembly of North America. Program donates Islamic books to prison libraries. Plans to provide an English library to 1,000 prisons in the US.
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BUDDHIST
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Engaged Zen Foundation
Organization founded to foster zazen (seated contemplative meditation) practice in prison and to help meet the spiritual needs of prisoners. The foundation believes practicing zazen in prison will enable prisoners to "reenter society with a disciplined, patient, nonviolent and compassionate frame of mind." Provides Buddhist chaplains to death row inmates. Also advocates human rights in prisons and in the criminal justice system.
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Prison Dharma Network
Buddhist support network for prisoners, prison volunteers, and correctional workers. Supports prisoners in meditation practices to aid self-rehabilitation and transformation. Offers opportunities for volunteer service and internships.
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OTHER
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Prison Ashram Project
Started by Bo Lozoff and Ram Dass, the Prison Ashram Project is run through the Human Kindness Foundation. The project encourages prisoners to recognize their potential as human beings and take responsibility for changing prisons and the world. Advocates victim-offender reconciliation, prisoner penpaling, and employment of ex-convicts.
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Do you know of a great website? Tell us about it and we may add it to the list.
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