Programs

We offer programming inside prison as well as on the outside. For more information please see these overviews:

Mentoring Overview

Re-Entry Overview


Planning With Purpose

The focus of this program is to teach new thinking skills, in particular critical thinking and good decision making skills.

The program combines a study of the book, “The Purpose Driven Life” with a curriculum designed to teach new and constructive thinking skills. 

It is a 20 week program that meets two hours per week.  It is limited to 15 participants who are chosen on a first come/first served basis by sending a kite to the Religious Coordinator.    If the limit is not met, or if individuals drop out, no new participants my attend after the third week of class.
It is open to inmates of ANY faith or NO faith without regard to length of sentence, crime committed, or date of release.

This program has been offered twice a year at NSP since January 2005.   Classes start January and July. We are currently conducting the 7^th session and are in week 17.
Two months before the start of each session, Released and Restored sends fliers to the Religious Coordinator for posting in the Housing Units and at the Religious Center.
This program is in high demand at NSP.  Typically inmates learn about the program from one another and sign up even before the fliers are posted
Each week's homework assignments revolve around these core questions/concepts:

1.  What led and contributed to the poor choices  made in the past;
2.  What is the logical outcome of self-centered thinking, especially in a family setting  or job setting;
3.  What is the logical outcome of other-centered thinking, especially in a family setting or job setting;
4.  What types of changes need to occur within current thought processes in order to make positive and constructive choices in the future;
5.  Acknowledge the triggers that cause poor choices and list the barriers to put in place to avoid them;
6. Acknowledge the harm you have caused others; 
7. Learning to forgive self and others, and why this is a critical piece in the process of moving forward to moral, ethical and legal living.

Jobs Readiness/Life Skills


This program can be offered in either of the following ways:
1.  16 weeks meeting once a week for 2 hours per session; or
2.  8 weeks meeting twice a week  for  1 hour per session.   

The focus of this program is preparing individuals to be self-sufficient after release. 

The primary emphasis of the program is preparing individuals for long-term, gainful employment.  A secondary emphasis is on money management and budgeting.  In addition, landlord/tenant relations are also addressed as are various health and hygiene issues. 

Undergirding the entire curriculum are the concepts of learning critical thinking and good decision making skills.

The class is limited to 15 participants from general population who are within 6-9 months of discharge or parole.

Each participant who successfully completes the program will receive a Certificate of Completion.

The requirements for receiving the certificate are:
1.  Perfect attendance;
2.  Completion of all homework assignments;
3.  Participation in class discussions;
4.  Completion of three page essay on “What it Takes to be a Good Employee”; and
5.  Creation of a sample personal budget for one year.