Parish Groups Sponsor Prison Ministry Conference

St. Mel Detention Ministry and the Justice and Peace Council along with help from the Men’s Club and St. Vincent de Paul Society will be sponsoring a training conference for the volunteer members of Inmate Family Councils throughout California. Representatives from many of our state’s 33 adult prisons will gather at St Mel the weekend of October 9-10 to better understand how to interact and advocate with local prison administrations to improve conditions for families, volunteers and the prisoners they support.

Since this interaction is often the primary rehabilitative activity in each prison, this conference serves as a key component in helping inmates and their families prepare for positive reintegration into the community.

Families bear the day to day costs of supplying inmates with food supplements, toiletries, clothing, shoes, craft material, reading matter and even school tuition in addition to the travel expenses involved in visiting their loved ones. The help of St Mel in donating the use of its buildings and defraying the costs of this conference are very much appreciated.

If you are interested in knowing more about our penal system and groups working for prison reform contact Bob Driscoll at bdscts@sbcglobal or 818-225-8054.

or For more information go to http://www.vspw-ifc.com/index.html