Nashville, USA - James Settles helped start a faith-based halfway house called Aphesis -- meaning ''to let go'' in Greek -- to keep former inmates from returning to prison.
The inspiration came from his own life: After eight years in prison for selling drugs, he spent two years in a halfway house that provided spiritual instruction.
''Once people get out, they need somewhere to go or a mentor to help keep them on the right track,'' said the 42-year-old Settles, who has been running the house in Nashville for two years. ''Even more, there's got to be a spiritual side.''
Aphesis is among a growing number of programs nationwide -- both inside and outside prisons -- that are using religion to try and curtail the nation's high recidivism rate.
Of the nearly 300,000 prisoners released in 15 states in 1994, 67.5 percent were re-arrested within three years and 51.8 percent went back to prison, according to a 2002 Justice Department study.
But a 2003 University of Pennsylvania study showed that, of the inmates who participated in a faith-based pre-release program, 8 percent returned to prison within two years, compared with 20.3 percent who weren't in the program.
Such statistics are being used to justify congressional legislation that would provide grants to social service programs -- including religious programs -- to tackle the problem of recidivism.
'Something special happens'
Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) is a sponsor of the Second Chance Act, which he says would provide former inmates with ''a stable environment and someone to help them'' once they're released. ''If they don't get that, they'll probably be back,'' Davis said.
There are many secular transitional programs for inmates and ex-offenders, but supporters say faith-based programs are more effective.
''They do what many professional counselors have a hard time doing,'' Davis said. ''Something special happens when you get people to shouting and praying.''
The exact number of faith-based prison programs is unknown. But President Bush has spurred the growth of such programs by giving more federal money to religious social service organizations, including those that fight recidivism.
Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, said she supports programs that help inmates fit back into society. ''But that premise breaks down when state government only provides faith-based programming for their inmates,'' Weinberg said. ''There needs to be more than just faith-based programs.''