Corrections_Today_March_April_2023_Vol.85_No.2

NEWS&VIEWS

the best way to move forward, the critical aspect of mentoring should remain an important component in the rehabilitation process. Providing training for mentors and in-prison faith-based services volunteers on the factors that lead to incarceration and reincarceration will be important. Being able to show how faith-based programming can and should target criminogenic risk factors will be a key to helping volunteers target the needs of the people they serve. Mentors, in particular, provide listening, reflecting and coaching to those looking to learn how they can change.

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Mentors, in particular, provide listening, reflecting and coaching to those looking to learn how they can change. Good mentors are skilled at motivational interviewing. Mentors are not primarily teachers. Amen tor walks alongside of their mentee, gently nudging them toward the path of healing and growth. A good mentor embodies the best practices that can have a lasting impact on the rehabili tation of their mentee. A 2011 report by the Minnesota Department of ENDNOTES 1 Martinson, R. (1974). What Works? — questions and answers about prison reform. The Public Interest , 35: 22-54. Retrieved from 58e1a4ba7354b822028275.pdf (nationalaffairs.com) 2 Andrews, D.A., Zinger, I., Hoge, R.D., Bonta, J., Gendreau, P., & Cullen, F.T. (1990). Does Correctional Treatment Work? A Psychologically Informed Meta-analysis. Criminology , 28(3), 369-404. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary. wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1745-9125.1990. tb01330.x 3 The White House: Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative . (2004). Washington, D.C.: USGPO. Retrieved from https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives. gov/government/fbci/pri.html

Corrections concluded any visit from a mentor reduced recidivism by 29%. 6 Clergy visits reduced recidivism by 24%. To a lesser extent, family visits had an impact on reducing recidivism. Research shows the effectiveness of mentoring programs is enhanced by training and supporting mentors. 5 In addition, program fidelity was found to be important to the effectiveness of mentoring programs. 6 As in-prison faith-based programs are rebuilding and staff are assessing 4 Duwe, G. & King, M. (2013) Can Faith-Based Correctional Programs Work? An Outcome Evaluation of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative in Minnesota. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology , 57(7). Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/22436731/ 5 The Effects of Prison Visitation on Offender Recidivism (2011). Minnesota Department of Corrections. Retrieved from https://mn.gov/doc/ assets/11-11PrisonVisitationResearchinBrief Final_tcm1089-272782.pdf 6 DuBois, D.L, Holloway, B.E., Valentine, J.C., Cooper, H. (2002) Effectiveness of Mentoring Programs for Youth: AMeta-Analytical Review. Psychology Review 30(2):157-197 Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12002242/

John Byrne (B.S., Mdiv) is the Director of Student Programming at Crossroads Prison Ministries. He has thirty years of prison ministry experience, including starting and running

in-prison reentry and faith-based programs in six states. His areas of expertise include reentry, mentoring, program design and curriculum development.

12 — March/April 2023 Corrections Today