Prison Fellowship International (PFI) and Pepperdine University have joined forces with the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute of Colombia (INPEC) and Prison Fellowship Colombia (PFC) to conduct an extensive study on the efficacy of international prison programming in Colombia’s prison system. The goal of the study is to measure the impact of these programs on offender rehabilitation, recidivism reduction, and general correctional reform.
The study will specifically evaluate the effectiveness of PFI and PFC programs in changing prisoner attitudes, beliefs, and behavior. By identifying evidence-based best practices, the study aims to bring about meaningful change in the lives of prisoners and their families, as well as prison culture as a whole.
Colombia has one of the largest prison systems in the world, with over 113,000 prisoners across 132 prisons. Prison Fellowship Colombia has been actively serving the country’s prison population for the past 20 years, and currently has access to more than 83% of the nation’s prisoners through its portfolio of ministry programs. The organization has been known for its innovation in pioneering several Prison Fellowship International programs and advocating for prison reforms. The study has also garnered support from the Colombian Senate and Judiciary.
Pepperdine University, a highly regarded Christian university in California, will oversee the study. With its commitment to academic excellence and research evaluation, Pepperdine’s Center for Faith and the Common Good will play a crucial role in the study, led by Byron Johnson and Pepperdine president Jim Gash. The center focuses on investigating how faith and religion impact human flourishing.
The longitudinal study will follow participants in 12 Prison Fellowship programs across eight prisons for five years or more. Thousands of prisoners and their families will be studied to evaluate the long-term impact of these programs.
The findings from the study are expected to be published within the first year. The research will promote the adoption of best practices in prison programming, especially within the Prison Fellowship program portfolio, and will also be used by the Colombian government to improve the national prison system. The findings will be incorporated into training curriculum for prison guards.
Overall, this groundbreaking study aims to provide empirical, scientific evidence to build a case for faith-based prison programs and promote effective rehabilitation and correctional reform in Colombia’s prison system. The collaboration between PFI, Pepperdine University, INPEC, and Prison Fellowship Colombia holds great promise for transforming the lives of prisoners and their communities.
