praying for our jail and prison ministries

I appreciate multiple strong reactions to my blog concerning the violent death of a female officer around a chapel service on the Monroe Corrections Center grounds last Saturday night.  The media is all over this.  The governor called for an investigation.

We need to pray.

I learned the officer-inmate ratio standard at the Regional Justice Center is 1:64, one officer for every 64 inmates.  That means most of the units at the RJC are staffed by one officer.  Hallway ratio is 1:10, one officer for every 10 inmates as they are moved throughout the building.

We need to pray.  We need to continue to persevere joyfully.  We need to pray. We need to obey the rules in our facilities.  We need to be aware. We need to pray.

Just today, a news media site reported that for the first time since corrections officer Jayme Biendl was killed at her post at the Monroe Correctional Complex, officials today could lay out plans for changes at state prisons.

Corrections Secretary Eldon Vail told state lawmakers Thursday in Olympia that he hoped to announce “a few changes".

“I’m looking at some security improvements, not just at Monroe but statewide,” he said after appearing in front of the House General Government Appropriations Committee.

What perspectives might we gain from these events while we persevere and joyfully serve at the  facilities where the Lord Himself has called us?   Here are my beginning thoughts.  As I publish this, receive feedback, and continue to serve, the Lord will bring more to write about.

First, pray.

We need to pray for Byron S., the alleged killer, and the family of Jayme Biendl, the slain officer.  Oh, we need to pray on!  We need to pray around all the institutions where God has privileged us to serve.  We should be praying for the inmate population--that we might expand our faith to reach more and more for salvation, re-dedication, and comfort and strength for their families. 

We should also be praying for the officers, support staff, and multiple levels of administration as they do their jobs.

When we enter our facilities, the secured perimeter, we need to pray for the men and women we will contact for the Kingdom of God.  We need to pray in areas the Lord lays on your heart I didn't touch on here. Oh, that He would use us mightily! 

Second, obey the rules.

Rules and the spirit of the rules are outlined for our protection.  Since my initial days at the RJC, I felt safe within the units.  Maybe, no, simply a sense of being too safe.  There have been incidents of violence around me, that's part of being in a jail and prison ministry. While officers have always been attentive, they can't see everything.  Officers can't control the small percentage seeking to fight, harm others, or even try to commit suicide. The rules are set out for our protection.

Third, be aware.

Keep on serving where you are.  Know where you are.  We serve in jails and prisons and even transitional support ministries, not our homes, nor our churches.  We are in a very different culture with those being held for court procedures or serving time.  Inmates are in very different situations.  Some will receive Christ and be forever, eternally changed.  Some inmates mat be innocent of what they have been charged.  Some made mistakes, even several times, will change, and never re-offend.  Some will remain incarcerated their entire lives.  Some are dangerous and are not accurately placed for the safety of their surroundings.  Some are mentally imbalanced.