Purpose in prison

JAMESTOWN – Matt Romero walked into the visitor's center, ready for his baptism in a laundry cart.
More than 100 of his fellow inmates were waiting by the inelegant but functional baptismal. Romero, a baby–faced 19–year–old from San Bernardino sentenced for spousal abuse, climbed into the cart.

The room at the state prison last Saturday had the atmosphere of an old–fashioned tent revival. The prisoners, some of whom will spend the rest of their lives behind bars, were in a celebratory mood.



After a few words, the preacher lowered Romero under the cold water. He flinched. His fellow sinners cheered. Serving time, now serving the Lord.

Some would say that Sierra Conservation Center, like Romero, has been reborn.

A year ago, the Jamestown prison became the first in the country to implement a Christian self–help program that has been popular with churches in the past few years.

Now, officials with the state Department of Corrections credit the program for a significant decrease in violence at the prison, particularly in the area that houses the most serious offenders.

The 40–day program is based on "The Purpose–Driven Life," a best–selling book by Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Orange County.

When the program started in April 2003, there had been 104 violent incidents at the prison since the previous April; in the next 12 months the number dropped to 67, according to state officials. During that same period, the number of assaults on staff fell, and so did the number of disciplinary reports issued. Lockdowns decreased from five to one.

Lt. Kenny Calhoun, the prison's public information officer, has been at the Tuolumne County facility 19 years. He attributes the improvement to a number of factors, such as a highly trained staff, inmate leaders in the yard and cooperation among other faith groups.

"But there's no doubt in my mind that this program is a big reason for the drop," said Calhoun.

The program has been such a success at Sierra Conservation Center that other California prisons are starting similar ones. Prison officials from other states have also inquired about the ministry. At San Quentin, one chaplain at the prison was so enthusiastic about the program that he purchased the material for the inmates himself.

"This has had a positive impact on safety in the prison and hopefully on public safety when they get out," said Terry Thornton, spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections. She said that the state is not promoting or endorsing one religion. "And taxpayers are not paying for it."

Victims' rights groups have mixed feelings about such programs.

"We support anything that makes the prisoners accountable and responsible for their actions," said Harriet Salarno, chair of Crime Victims United of California, a statewide advocacy group. "But how do we know they're sincere? They all find religion in prison, especially when their parole hearing comes around."