I am pleased to report that Kairos is
alive and growing in Ohio prisons. As Director of the Ohio Department
of Rehabilitation and Correction I feel that we have a responsibility to
be change agents during the time an offender is incarcerated. The
“Rehabilitation” in our agency’s name is there for a reason. We do not
give up on our offender population. This is important not only to the
offender and his or her family, but also to the safety of society. The
bottom line is recidivism, but the human face of recidivism is the
giving of hope and an opportunity for a new life after release from
prison.
Life changes can occur
through education, developing a work ethic and marketable skills, or
through faith. I feel that it is our obligation to return people to
society as productive citizens, capable of being included in our world.
Kairos supports this effort by providing large numbers of volunteers who
not only participate during the weekend retreats, but continue coming
back to prison to support offenders in their search for a relationship
with God.
I am proud of our
innovative approaches to Kairos-based programs. For example, Kairos
Outside, a spiritual weekend retreat for the loved ones of inmates, is
unique in Ohio. Actually, we have renamed it “Kairos Outside/Inside,”
because the family members meet and work together inside the walls of
the Marion Correctional Institution. The inmate sponsors attend the
Closing ceremony and have dinner with their guest at the end of the
weekend. Female guests stay at a local hotel provided by Kairos
Outside. Many families are being rebuilt and new beginnings forged
thanks to the success of Kairos Outside.
This year we took a
great leap forward by developing a special dormitory for inmates who
want to strengthen their faith by working and living together. The
Horizon Interfaith program Marion Correctional Institution enables
Kairos graduates to join with Jewish and Muslim inmates and live
together in community. They practice their own faith and learn about
others. It is an exciting approach to developing tolerance and respect
for others.
In Ohio, Kairos began
at the Lebanon Correctional Institution in 1990 and expanded to the Ohio
Reformatory for Women in 1994, the Marion Correctional Institution in
1997, and the Ross Correctional Institution in 2000. A contract has
been signed to begin Kairos weekends at the Trumbull Correctional
Institution in August 2001. Kairos reunions are held in three
additional facilities.
Kairos volunteers are
valued partners in our efforts to provide the hope of a productive
future to Ohio inmates. Kairos and Kairos Outside have both received
our Department’s Excel and Best Practice awards. We look forward to
continuing our exploration and support of religious programming for all
inmates in Ohio.
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