NCJ Number
214214
Journal
Community Corrections Report Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Dated: March/April 2006 Pages: 33,43,45
Date Published
April 2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines how faith-based communities can become an integral part in the successful reentry of domestic violence offenders by working in partnership with community corrections and secular agencies with the ultimate goal of ending domestic violence.
Abstract
Faith-based groups are already extensively involved in the reentry work of offenders. However, the faith-community model discussed in this article suggests that faith communities stretch their vision a bit, educate themselves about domestic violence, partner with corrections professionals and other community services, and serve as “mentor/coordinators” to the offender. These communities can become more knowledgeable about domestic violence, not as a means to provide direct services, but as a way to partner with the secular agencies to keep victims safe and offenders accountable while also providing hope and guidance. Faith groups can reach out to domestic violence offenders in a way that parallels how some faith groups reach out presently to domestic violence victims. This article discusses how the faith-based community can be an effective way to reduce domestic violence offenders’ rates of re-offending. The article recommends two faith and domestic violence resources, highlights two correctional programs, and describes two partnerships with the faith community. With the goal to end domestic violence, the fewer domestic violence offenders who reoffend, the fewer domestic violence victims there will be. References