GETTING RELIGION IN STATE PRISON

All Florida Inmates Need Rehabilitation

Through intensive religious guidance, inmates in Florida's faith-based
prison can improve their lives outside its walls, according to Gov. Jeb
Bush. Inmates also will get classes to help spur their rehabilitation.
They'll have a better shot at holding jobs, supporting families and staying
on the right side of the law, the governor says.

These are laudable goals that can help reduce crime and make the most of
human capital. But every convict -- whether he or she is a believer,
nonbeliever or atheist -- should have a chance to attain these goals.

What's missing here is the connection between officials' professed desire
to turn inmates' lives around and resources allocated for rehabilitation. A
majority of inmates won't emerge from state prisons with job skills, a
high-school equivalency diploma or even spiritual enrichment. State
lawmakers this year slashed funds for inmate education and job training.

Volunteers Only

The story is different at the Lawtey prison in North Florida. Last week,
Gov. Bush dedicated the medium-security institution as the nation's first
faith-based prison. Lawmakers took pains to skirt around the U.S.
Constitution's prohibition against the establishment of a state religion.
So, inmates volunteer to be housed at Lawtey. Moreover, 26 religions are
represented among the 792 felons there. They follow a two-pronged approach:
A life-improvement track offers advice on anger-management, parenting and
financial-skills training. In the faith-based track, inmates participate in
services specific to their religion. Community volunteers are allowed to
lead religious-studies programs.

Some critics believe that the programming does, in fact, violate the
Constitution's requirement for a separation of church and state. But
corrections administrators say they have dealt with those concerns: The
prison can accommodate 125 religions recognized by the state or the courts;
volunteers cannot proselytize; nonreligious inmates aren't excluded from
the prison.

A Real Commitment

These criteria buffer the program from constitutional concerns, but sermons
in one facility aren't an answer to Florida's anemic prison rehabilitation
programs. To put a dent in Florida's 38 percent recidivism rate, much more
is needed. Unfortunately lawmakers cut 339 prison-staff positions this
year, saving $20.8 million. The cuts included education and counseling
services. Even chaplains and spiritual programs were eliminated.

Lawmakers ignored the benefits of rehabilitation. For every 2,000 inmates
with a general-education diploma, taxpayers save $1.9 million. When 2,000
felons leave prison with vocational skills, Florida saves $3.2 million
annually. Faith is fine, but Florida prisons need a real commitment to
rehabilitation.