Community Impact Blog

This is why prison education isn’t just a moral argument—it’s a practical one. It reduces future crime. It lowers costs. It strengthens communities. And it saves lives, sometimes in the most unexpected places.

This research contributes to a growing body of evidence showing the value of high-quality educational programs in correctional settings—not only for reducing recidivism but for fostering human flourishing.

Mary Flin’s example challenges me to rethink what it means to serve, to listen, and to love my own neighbors. Her life is a living answer to the question: What if every neighborhood had a chaplain?

The evidence is clear: faith-based educational programs like The Urban Ministry Institute offer far more than theological training—they cultivate well-being, leadership, and resilience among incarcerated individuals.

Drawing on research, theory, and firsthand accounts, this chapter interrogates what it truly means to flourish in the least likely of places.

Two programs are successfully addressing criminogenic needs: World Impact's TUMI seminary-level education program offered in prisons across the US, and House of Mercy's re-entry ministry in Washington. These two organizations are effectively reducing reoffending by focusing on addressing criminogenic needs, and we highlight House of Mercy in this post.

You can drive greater impact with data – work with a program evaluator who has a history of publishing research in academic journals to ensure that more people set eyes on your accomplishments. We helped a client get their program expanded into 53 new locations because we published evaluation data in over 25 blogs and in three academic journals.

Based on the first round of data collection and analysis, it appears that HOM is achieving its desired outcomes. Specifically, program participants rated themselves highly in terms of their perceptions of HOM’s programs and services, ability to think adaptively under stress, psychological strength and approach to problem-solving, perceived social support, employment and educational trajectories, and positive use of leisure time.

Cognitive distortions - irrational thoughts that can distort the way a person sees themselves, their life, their specific day-to-day situations, their relationships, and other people - can contribute to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Learn how to identify and address them in our peer2peer mental health support training.