Bill > HJR0932

This resolution, a concurrent resolution meaning both the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Tennessee General Assembly have agreed to it, honors and recognizes the significant contributions of Prison Fellowship. The resolution highlights that the First Amendment's guarantee of religious freedom extends to incarcerated individuals, and that faith practices within correctional facilities can lead to personal accountability, improved mental health, and successful reentry into society, ultimately making prisons safer and reducing recidivism (the rate at which former prisoners re-offend). It acknowledges Prison Fellowship, founded in 1976, as the nation's largest Christian nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, reaching over 600,000 individuals annually with the help of more than 200,000 volunteers. The resolution also points to evaluations showing Prison Fellowship's programs, like the Academy program, have significantly reduced recidivism by over sixty percent, demonstrating the effectiveness of faith-informed programming. Furthermore, it mentions their current programs, such as Prison Fellowship Grow for women and the Angel Tree program that provides Christmas gifts to children with incarcerated parents, and notes that Prison Fellowship will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in 2026, continuing its mission to promote justice, mercy, hope, and religious practice within prisons.

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=HJR0932&ga=114