CARING FOR PRISONERS IS MORAL IMPERATIVE

Our position: "The penal code shall be founded on the principles of
reformation, and not of vindictive justice."-- Article 1, Section 18,
Indiana Constitution "Whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers of mine, you did for me."-- Jesus, Matthew 25:40

If the two quotations above don't convince you, here's one more reason why
Hoosiers should care about our prisoners: 99.7 percent of them will get
back out.

Today, we begin a series of editorials that will run occasionally over
coming months to explore the question: What can Indiana do to better
prepare inmates to return to their communities?

We begin during the holidays because it's one time of year when we think
about "the least among us," as our series is called. We chose Christmas
because those who believe in Jesus claim that they would follow him to the
ends of the Earth. Would they really? If so, they have a religious calling
to tend to the prisoners.

When Indiana's Founding Fathers wrote our Constitution in 1851, they
envisioned a system that would rehabilitate, not just punish offenders.

The Rev. Jackie Means, who directs prison ministry for the national
Episcopal Church, does not believe Indiana complies with its Constitution.
"I'm afraid it's just the opposite," she says. "We live in a very punitive,
vindictive society. Most of that is due to the fact that the average person
is afraid. When people are afraid, they want criminals punished and locked
up and never let out. Our prison system reflects our community."

In coming months, we will consider what an ideal system of reformation
would look like and what resources the Department of Correction would need
to implement it for 20,000 inmates.

Means says envisioning the ideal will challenge each of us because "it
would look altogether different and taxpayers would be screaming because it
costs money to rehabilitate people, and they don't want to spend the money."

Yet research tells us that money spent on rehabilitation is money well
spent. We've been spending it anyway. As our prison population has tripled
over the past two decades, our budget for prison construction has
skyrocketed. So why have we retreated from programs such as work-release
that improve one's chances for successful return to society?

The DOC credits effective education and rehabilitation programs with a
recent drop in the recommitment rate, now at 28 percent, but admits that
waiting lists and limited resources keep many from being served.

"I have lived in the system for two years and, believe me, it's broken,"
said inmate Michael L. Harris of Miami Correctional Facility. "It needs
reform with real emphasis on rehabilitation instead of vengeance."

Prison activists echo that complaint. "What I'm hearing is that so many of
the offenders are sitting idle now," says Jane Ann Lemen, outreach
counselor for United Methodist Jail Ministries. "It's just sort of a
warehousing."

If the Constitution is not being met, don't blame the DOC. Its budget is
what the legislature gives it. Lawmakers respond to voters. It is the
responsibility of all of us as citizens to make prisoners a priority and to
demand that we comply with our own Constitution.

Today, of all days, we should understand why.

In Matthew 25, the people asked Jesus: "When did we see you a stranger and
invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick
or in prison and go to visit you?" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did
for me."