PRISON MINISTRY VOLUNTEERS WARY OF TRUTH IN SENTENCING

Thousands of Oklahomans, mostly men, leave prison every year after serving
their sentences.

"Maybe 5 percent, if they're lucky, have a family and a support system
already" that can help them adjust to life outside the walls, said the Rev.
Mary McAnally, director of corrections ministries for Tulsa Metropolitan
Ministry.

She oversees more than 600 volunteers who bring worship, education and
friendship to prisoners.

Whatever their crime, most will one day return to society, and they need
more help in doing so, she said.

The ministry also is concerned about the high rate of imprisonment in Oklahoma.

"We would like to see some sort of reversal in the trend to incarcerate
more and more and more people," she said.

McAnally and about 50 volunteers in prison ministry gathered Saturday for
an update on the state corrections system and an awards banquet at All
Tribes Community Church, 2501 E. Archer St.

They heard from a panel of law enforcement and corrections workers, most of
whom were concerned about the new truth-in-sentencing and
community-sentencing laws. Both are scheduled to take effect July 1, but
they may face further changes by the state Legislature. Some district
attorneys and sheriffs have opposed the laws because of their cost and
predicted impact.

Joy Hadwiger, one of the panelists, is regional administrator for the
Community Sentencing Division of the state Corrections Department.

She said of the new laws: "We can all come up with anecdotal examples where
this will be horrible and awful. But by and large, people will be serving
more time, while the people who can be helped will be helped."

She urged the audience to attend the monthly meetings of the local
Community Sentencing Planning Council, which has a great deal of power over
how Tulsa-area nonviolent offenders will be treated under the new law.

The Rev. Jim Rowe of Solid Rock Baptist Church said he has reservations
about truth in sentencing, which would require convicts to serve at least
75 percent to 85 percent of their sentences.

"It will really wreak havoc on the poor," Rowe said. "The people who end up
getting long sentences are often those who can't afford to hire
high-powered legal counsel.

"We're too punishment oriented. I'm not saying a person who commits a crime
should not have to pay for their crime, but justice should be tempered with
mercy."

McAnally said the ministry is always looking for volunteers to do such
things as take Bibles to prisoners, provide transportation for prisoners
who need to go to funerals or other important events, volunteer in
Alcoholics Anonymous or similar meetings for prisoners and help with
education and mentoring for people who recently have been released.

During the awards banquet, Frances Garret, Wilfred Coburn and Ernestine
Tate received Volunteer of the Year awards.

The Tulsa Parenting Partnership, the Last Say Ministry and the Tulsa
Community Corrections staff received Organization of the Year awards.
Victory Christian Center was named Faith Group of the Year.