http://articles.cnn.com/2011-09-11/politics/florida.hispanic.voters_1_tea-party-michele-bachmann-hispanics?_s=PM:POLITICS

by Peter Wagner

This article was prepared on Monday. On Wednesday, the Assembly passed the plan and it is now on the Governor’s desk awaiting signature.

The Wisconsin legislature is rushing through a redistricting plan so they can lock in the maps before the scheduled recall elections can change who has the power to draw district lines. In that rush, prison-based gerrymandering is poised to have an even greater impact on state, county and municipal districts than it did a decade ago.

The Census Bureau counts Wisconsin prisoners as if they were residents of the communities where they are incarcerated, even though they can’t vote and remain legal residents of the places they lived prior to incarceration. Crediting thousands of people to other communities has staggering implications for Wisconsin’s democracy, which uses the Census to apportion political power on the basis of equally-sized state and county legislative districts.

Wisconsin’s 53rd Assembly district has the highest concentration of prisons in the state. The 53rd District claims 5,583 incarcerated people as residents of the district, even though state law says that incarcerated people remain residents of their homes. All districts send some people to prison, although some districts send more than others. But not all districts have prisons, and concentrating 23,000 prisoners in a handful of districts enhances the weight of a vote cast in those districts and dilutes all votes cast elsewhere.

In Wisconsin, this impact is largest in District 53, where without using prison populations as padding, the district would be 10% below the required size. This gives every 90 residents of the 53rd district the same influence as 100 residents of any other district in the state.

If that seems insignificant, consider that the Supreme Court allows districts to have populations that are 5% too large or small if the state can protect some other legitimate state interest by doing so. The federal judges who have for decades drawn Wisconsin’s state legislative districts have had an even higher standard, allowing only a 1% deviation from strict population equality. The Republican majority of the legislature which drew the new districts took an even higher standard in the Assembly, drawing districts that are, by Census counts, no more than 0.4% too large or small.

The state’s efforts to carefully draw districts that give each district the same population and the same political influence is clearly overshadowed by the decision to use the Census Bureau’s data that credited incarcerated people to the wrong location when drawing districts, and created one of the most distorted state legislative districts in the county. The systematic bias introduced by drawing districts based on Census Bureau prison counts becomes clear when you look in detail at District 53:

District 53 purports to have a large African-American population, larger than 74 other districts. But of the 2,784 African-Americans in the district, all but 590 are incarcerated. The day the people incarcerated in the district are allowed to vote again, they will be on a bus, heading back to their home district. The 53rd District is claiming populations that are not a part of this district and never will be.

The state Assembly is not the only part of Wisconsin to raise the ante on prison-based gerrymandering and draw districts more distorted than they did a decade ago. In our previous research, we found some of the most dramatic examples of prison-based gerrymandering in the country in Wisconsin cities and counties. With two notable exceptions, counties appear to have been unable or unwilling to find a solution to competing state laws that indirectly require them to use the unadjusted Census numbers and engage in prison-based gerrymandering.

The two exceptions are Dodge County, and the City of Waupun. These communities did something clever: they split each large prison between 2 or 3 neighboring districts. Those districts still get credited with an incarcerated population that actually resides somewhere else, but the size of the vote enhancement in any individual district is smaller. And by extension, this reduces the extent to which votes are diluted in other Dodge County or City of Waupun districts.

With Dodge County and the City of Waupun finding solutions, albeit partial ones, the mantle for the most dramatic examples of prison-based gerrymandering is likely going to fall to Chippewa, Juneau, and Waushara counties, all of which saw new prisons built or expanded over the last decade, and all of which appear to be drawing individual county districts that are more than 50% incarcerated. In each of these counties, if you live next to the prisons, you’ll get twice the influence over the future of our county as residents who live elsewhere. That’s not fair. It likely violates the federal constitution’s guarantee of equal representation, and it certainly doesn’t make any sense.

We concede — when fairness and logic aren’t enough to avoid prison-based gerrymandering — that it is technically possible to draw a district that is half incarcerated. One town in Iowa had a district that was 96% incarcerated, until citizens intervened. So what are we watching for at the Prison Policy Initiative headquarters? We’re waiting to see how the cities of New Lisbon and Stanley draw their city districts. There, unless they take action, they’ll be faced with drawing districts that are more than 100% incarcerated. This impossibility could produce some of the most dramatic examples of prison-based gerrymandering in the country. Will those cities follow the state legislature’s blind rush into prison-based gerrymandering and end up drawing one or more City Council districts with no voters? Stay tuned.

By Yonat Shimron and Adelle M. Banks
c. 2011 Religion News Service

RALEIGH, N.C. (RNS) In the two months since North Carolina’s legislature laid off most of its prison chaplains, Betty Brown, director of prison chaplaincy services, has been crisscrossing the state searching for volunteers who can attend to the religious needs of Native American, Wiccan and Rastafarian prisoners.

State legislators had assumed volunteer ministries would jump in and help prisoners meet the ritual and devotional needs of their faiths. But so far, that hasn’t happened.

“It’s been tough locating volunteers for those faith groups,” said Brown, whose department lost 26 full-time prison chaplains as part of an effort to close a $2.6 billion state budget gap.

Across the nation, religious life behind bars is changing as correctional departments face budget cuts along with other state agencies. Some states like North Carolina have seen outright cuts. In other states, vacancies due to hiring freezes mean no replacements for chaplains who die or retire.

Gary Friedman, spokesman for the American Correctional Chaplains Association, said his organization distributes brochures to explain to legislators mulling cuts the benefits of retaining correctional chaplains.

“Chaplains are getting caught up in all these budget reductions and staff reductions,” he said. “It’s going on all over the country.”

Some states, such as Texas, were able to spare chaplains in the budget negotiations.

But in other states, prison chaplains are seeing increasing workloads in tough economic times, even as the religious diversity of inmates continues to grow.

In California, where about 130 prison chaplains are currently employed, there are three dozen vacancies.

At the California Men’s Colony, a medium- and minimum-security prison in San Luis Obispo, Rabbi Lon Moskowitz, the Jewish chaplain, is helping fulfill the duties of a Muslim chaplain who died a few months ago.

“Twice a month … I oversee their Juma prayer,” he said.

During Passover and summer solstice observances, he said, some Jewish and Native American inmates were unable to attend communal events due to lockdowns in their yards prompted by budget-related shortages in guards.

“They had to observe their religious service within their assigned housing unit,” said Lt. Dean Spears, a spokesman for the facility.

Indiana’s prisons — which have 9 vacancies among 37 chaplain positions — have had similar restrictions when overseen by skeleton crews at times when inmates might have attended chapel, said the Rev. Stephen Hall, director of religious services for the Indiana Department of Correction.

When there’s a drastic cut in chaplains, as in North Carolina, questions arise about everyday religious concerns as well as special or weekly observances.

“Lay people tend to think chaplains perform services on holy days,” said D. Craig Horn, a North Carolina legislator who opposed his state’s chaplaincy cuts. “My view is a professional chaplain adds stability and has a tremendous impact on promoting calm and providing prisoners with counseling and direction.”

A onetime church volunteer who helped prisoners prepare for the world outside, Horn also knows that volunteers aren’t trained to do the kind of interfaith work that chaplains provide daily — whether it’s kosher meals for Jews, prayer rugs for Muslims, or sage and sweet grass for American Indians to burn as they offer praise to the Four Winds.

Pat Nolan, vice president of Prison Fellowship, said chaplains are the ones most likely to help inmates after riots, rapes and other traumatic incidents or to facilitate special requests — like a phone call from a relative near death.

“For the safety of the institution, it’s important that persons going through those horrible situations have someone to help them to defuse the situation,” he said. “Otherwise, tension can get really high or out of control.”

Nolan said his evangelical organization — which also has faced its own staff cuts due to the economy — urged volunteers to contact legislators and fight for the Texas chaplains.

With North Carolina, there simply wasn’t time: “It was a done deal before we could mobilize anybody.”

But the well-being and safety of prisoners aren’t the only reasons to keep chaplains. There are legal issues too, state prison officials say.

The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 puts government agencies on alert that they can’t get in the way of the free religious practice of prisoners. With no professional chaplains left in North Carolina’s medium and minimum-security prisons, that legal requirement has become the biggest headache for Brown, the prison chaplaincy director.

Some worry the civil rights of prisoners may be violated by volunteer Christian ministries who, however sincere, may also be motivated to make converts.

“Inmates have a right to practice their faith while they’re incarcerated,” said the Rev. Mark Reamer, a Roman Catholic priest who has celebrated Mass at a Raleigh prison for the past 16 years. “Chaplains ensure a certain fairness.”

Tom O’Connor, a former Oregon prison chaplain who runs the company Transforming Corrections, said chaplains have to advocate more effectively about their contributions — not only supporting inmates but mobilizing volunteers and helping with re-entry programs that can reduce recidivism.

“Most of these prisoners are going to get out,” said Horn, the North Carolina state legislator. “We don’t want them to come back. That would be a lousy investment. The state of North Carolina needs to protect its investment.”

Copyright © The National Catholic Reporter Publishing Company

ACCCA SUMMER CONFERENCE

June 17-19 2011  Miami, FL

Opening Circle – Friday, June 17, 2011

Paul opened with a welcome and review of the agenda at 1:15 p.m.

Introductions in the circle:

• Paul Rogers – just retired from the state government.  Mentioned the hospice program they started in their prison infirmary after eight years (so “no one dies alone in prison”)

• Tom Skemp – Chaplain at LaCrosse County Jail.  10^th year there.  Deacon candidate in his diocese.

• Evelina – St. Max in Orlando – Her pastor does Mass once a month at the local prison.  Have volunteers from the Orlando diocese.

• Betty Williams – Orlando.  Holy Cross   Three years in prison ministry.  Keeps the inmates up-to-date on Catholic teachings at reception center and county jai.

• Dale Recinella – Maclenney, Florida -  St. Mary’s Church – the only one between Jacksonville and Lake City – 120 people total even though it serves 5 counties.  He and his wife been involved for 10 years.   Got involved when someone asked him to minister in the prison to HIV-Aids men.  400 men on death road, 2,500 on long-term solitary confinement + psych solitary.  Was a Wall Street lawyer in Miami, FL in his “first career.”

• Deacon Norman Meara – Oakridge, TN  Ordained a deacon coordinator in 2007 and has been in prison ministry since then.  Bishop asked him to do prison ministry before he was ordained. He serves the entire complex at his prison, from boot camp to max.  “Belt buckle of bible belt.”  Diocese of Knoxville.  The diocese is attempting to form a training program.

• Fr. Alan Lamica – Bear Hill Correctional Facility in upstate NY.

• Julien Olivier – New Hampshire  Two jobs:  one in Stratford County Jail (450 beds) for 19 years as volunteer;  and local hospital as the chaplain.  He and his wife work at the jail together for women.  There are five Catholic volunteers who go in during the week and serve the males and other population.  He serves on a board (founded in 2002) at the jail that oversees the spiritual programming at the jail.  Also works with the Family Reception Center (families who come to the facility for visits).

• Ron Mathis – Pelican Bay 3,200 men, with 27% eligible for services.  Have psych services unit and solitary housing units (SHU)  Certified two years ago.

• Mike Koncik – Redemptorist order.    16,500 people in Rikers Island.  Done prison ministry for 9.5 years, but been at Rikers for 6 years.  Primarily solitary confinement.  Also works at a mental institution.

• John (Jack) Boylan – “Gotta be who you is, not who you ain’t.  Because if ain’t who you is, you is who you ain’t and that ain’t good. “  Left corporate America as a pharm. Rep and medical director.  Pierce County Jail in Seattle.  Part-time chaplain 10 years ago and now full-time chaplain.  Also a hospital chaplain at St. Joseph.  Likes the mental health work.  Raymond Hall Juvenile Detention chaplain as well now.  Drawn to the “victim’s piece.”  Works at a “safe haven” and multi-disciplinary approach to domestic violence.  (Crystal Judsen home….who was a murder victim married to the Tacoma Chief of Police.”) His office is Catholic Community Services.  Also ALONE: All Loved Ones Need Encouragement – John founded and facilitates a group for the families, friends and loved ones of the incarcerated.  Grounded in Franciscan spirituality.

• Teodoro Rael – Santa Fe, NM – Volunteer chaplain at max prison in Santa Fe – goes cell-to-cell in solitary confinement.  Only Catholic volunteer who goes into solitary.

• Alan Napleton – Dallas/Ft. Worth – Brand new to correctional ministry.  Left corporate career 20 years ago.  Does event planning for bishops – First ED of Fulton J. Sheen Foundation.  Founded Catholic Marketing Network.  Had desire for years to get involved in prison ministry and met Ron Z. at Dismas.

• Deacon Edgardo Farias – Federal, state, county, immigration facilities.  250 volunteers, 10 priests and 12 deacons.

• Ron Zielinger – Indian Missions in South Dakota.  Dismas Ministries in Wisconsin whereby they provide free materials to incarcerated individuals in 43 states.

• Joined later in the evening by Lucy Jo Haberle.

Evening Session – Roundtable/Strategy Session

• Paul provided a history of ACCCA for the group.

• Deacon Norman mentioned that when his bishop appointed him to prison ministry, he searched the internet for resources and couldn’t find many.  Suggested that at the bishop’s level there be more in formation in the deaconate program specific to prison ministry.

• Tom Skemp talked about the training program he developed for volunteers and offered to put it on the website.

• Deacon discussed a school of ministry that his volunteers are part of in the Miami Detention Ministries and after two years, they are qualified.  It is ecumenical and supports every denomination, but provided by the Archdiocese of Miami

• Evalina suggested that we determine ways to educate and evangelize the incarcerated ministries in our parishes because all other ministries (homeless, etc.) are readily acknowledged and tended to.

• John Boylan mentioned the irony in that there are four Supreme Court justices who support the death penalty and appealed to the bishop to address that from a Church standpoint.

• Deacon Norman suggested we contact the Knights of Columbus as a resource.  Ron mentioned that, unless we start from the top, we will run into roadblocks because of the impression prisoners have; and because of the hierarchy.

• Betty said that she felt we should be evangelizing inside our own parishes first.  Ron agreed and said we (Catholic church) suffer from a lack of catechesis.

• Mike reminded the group that finding our resources is a key to individual success within the ministry.  Tom Skemp agreed and added that we need to be our own ambassadors.

• Bishop Knestout compared the experience to bringing awareness in his DC diocese to missions.  He talked about a priest in his archdiocese who formed the “Welcome Home” Ministry whereby members move around the diocese educating the people.

• Evalina suggested we use the national Catholic media to get the word out about the ministry.

Ron closed with prayer.

Meeting closed at 8:36 p.m.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Bishop Knestout presided at Mass at 7:30 a.m.

Jack Cowley, Director of Alpha for Prisons, presented to the group.

Twenty years in Corrections in Oklahoma. Was a member of Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship team and Alpha for the last six years.

Main points:  The battle is not among the faiths, but faithful vs. secular.

Jack reminded us that we lock up people who do not have constituents.  And then we celebrate our small wins along the way.  These days we cannot speak of social justice, restorative justice or rehabilitation because nobody hears that anymore.  We must speak to “public safety.”

Jack introduced the Alpha Course (both prisons and churches); CAPA; Billy Graham CMCA organization.

Jack asked the bishop if he had any problems with the Statement of Faith for CMCA involvement; bishop felt it was OK.  Also felt that the Alpha materials were quality (and recognized one of the bishops who had a part in creating it).  He distributed materials and his business cards with an invitation to call for more materials and training in facilities nationwide.

Business Meeting

In attendance:  Bishop Knestout, Paul Rogers, Mike Koncik, Alan Lamica, John Boylan, Tom Skemp, Julien Olivier, Norman Merrill, Ron Zeilinger, Teodoro Rael, Betty Williams, Lucy Jo Haberle, Alan Napleton, Dale Recinella

Paul called the meeting to order at 1:42 p.m.

Teodoro provided the financial report.  Down in membership from 116 to 107.  Discussed the need to raise more funds (beyond membership dues) in order to fund future conferences.  Teodoro provided an audit report (all well) and the latest budget as necessitated by our constitution.

Mike made a motion to accept the budget as presented; seconded by Alan.  Motion passed.

Paul distributed the signed certificates for (re)certification:  Ron Mathis, Julien Olivier, Ron Niggeman, Dale Recinella

Paul discussed the ICCPPC’s 2011 Congress in Yaounde, Cameroon.  He is going, funded by ACCCA.  Christine Shimrock is also attending, funded by a grant in Cincinnati.

Paul discussed the Jesuit Prison Ministries resource-sharing endeavor that he distributed in the last newsletter.  Alan N. suggested that it is a good fundraising idea. They are waiting for us to provide contacts.

Discussed the idea of ‘buying space’ from the USCCB for all the files. Ron suggested we look into the religious orders in some area that would provide us pro bono space for our files, etc.  Norman Merrill added that if we use a religious order, there might be a retired brother or sister who might be willing to archive our records and answer phones as their own ministry.The Bishop felt that the USCCB might be reluctant to give space away because it would set a precedent for other organizations to ask for space.  Dale Recinella provided a suggestion that we use a university as a home base, maybe a badge of honor for their restorative justice or criminal justice departments.

Paul agreed to place a year-end deadline to find a space.   Alan Lamica agreed to head the effort to do that.

Also, that we are nowhere located on the USCCB website.  Bishop Knestout agreed to investigate that.

Paul opened a discussion about next year’s meeting. Some of the options are attaching to the ACA meeting in Denver; a new city altogether (i.e. Las Vegas)  John Boyle suggested Seattle and offered to chair the committee.  The group talked about ways to increase the attendance.  Ron M. mentioned that there are over 120 chaplains in the California state system (albeit Protestants and Catholics) and he could send an email to them to encourage them to come.

Lucy asked about grants.  Bishop Knestout talked about the resources that are available in the funding world that he’s aware of and agreed that it will require time.  John Boylan suggested that “if we build it, they will come” and that if we get a keynote who needs no introduction, people will find a way to make it.   Suggestions were Richard Rohr and Sr. Helen Prejean.  Ron suggested the Lilly Foundation and Porticus.  Paul asked if anyone would be willing to look into funding sources that might be available.  No takers.

Paul presented Fr. Mike with a plaque for appreciation for serving as vice president.

Paul introduced the new Executive Board, Tom Skemp-Vice President, Christine Shimrock-Secretary, Teodoro Rael- Treasurer and Bishop Knestout-Episcopal Moderator.

Business meeting closed at 3:05.

Death Row Ministry

Dale Recinella presented his experience with death row and long-term solitary confinement.  He made available his two books, “The Biblical Truth about America’s Death Penalty” and “Now I Walk on Death Row.”

Mentioned Reverend Ellison DeFoor – Smart Justice Commission – Teamed up with Tax Watch (the watchdog group for poor spending in Florida) to address corrections in Florida. Passed a bill this year to divert juveniles from criminal charges to civil citations—called Starving the Beast (massive system of incarceration that is bankrupting Florida)

Reminded us that even state prisons are making money through commissary, phones. Biggest difference in cost is at the state side at the initial trial: the cost to the taxpayers to get someone sentenced to the death penalty.  Federal death penalty costs even more.

Dale shared his personal story that marked his transition from Corporate America to death row.  Discussion followed.

Meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Fr. Alan Lamica presided at Mass at 7:30 a.m.

Deacon Edgardo Farias presented an overview of the Archdiocese of Miami Detention Ministry to the group.  He oversees 74 facilities in his diocese, with 250 volunteers.

Reminded us to keep an open line of communication with our volunteers because they are so valuable.

Reminded us that not only should our detainees see Christ in us, we must see Christ in each of them.  This manifests in how we treat everyone in the institution, including the officers.

Mission Statement: “We are called, trained and sent to release the Good News, which is able to heal and transform the hearts of those who are affected by the Criminal Justice System.”

Steps to become a detention minister volunteer:  Deacon suggested that an important step is to get a letter from the pastor from each applicant in addition to the normally-required background steps.

Deacon Edgardo encouraged us to serve all the men in our center, not just the Catholics.  “If you serve only the Catholics, you will have problems,” he said.

More emphasis on Prevention, not Re-entry.

As a chaplain, need to have a pastoral mind.

A mature Catholic must know: (checks and balances of volunteers and staff)

• Institutional dimension of the Church – history and understanding of Church

• Intellectual dimension – Catechism of the Catholic Church and Bible

• Spiritual dimension – Demonstrate spirit

Suggestions:

• Uniforms to identify the team.

• Regular meetings to avoid “lone rangers”  Renew and reflect

(American Detention Association – new association)

Final Comments & Wrap-Ups

Paul discussed the Max Kolbe Award and reminded everyone to think through who we would feel is worthy of this year’s award.  Invited everyone to submit nominations to him in the upcoming months.

Paul will email the conference participants an evaluation using Survey Monkey.

Lucy asked about the newsletter and whether there will be future paper newsletters.  Tom Skemp suggested we go completely electronic, with a few exceptions for people who do not have access to online resources.  Reiterated our organizational plans to utilize the website in the future for as many forms of communication among members as possible.

Meeting adjourned at 12 p.m.

John A. Boylan, BCC
Pace e Bene!

April 18, 2011

Associated Press
Associated Press

PINETOPS — RALEIGH (AP) — Darren Whitehurst lost hope after a judge gave him a nine- to 11-year prison sentence after a series of break-ins and thefts brought on by drug problems turned him into a habitual felon in the eyes of North Carolina law.

Whitehurst credits the Rev. Roosevelt Askew, then the clinical chaplain at Pasquotank Correctional Institution in Elizabeth City, with helping him go deeper in his burgeoning Christian faith while behind bars. Now a 43-year-old business owner and Baptist minister, Whitehurst is worried about a legislative proposal to cut 54 permanent state-funded chaplains serving dozens of the state’s prisons and replace them with volunteers.

“I went into the system bitter, feeling like that my life was just ruined,” said Whitehurst, who was released in late 2005 and now lives in Williamston. “If it wasn’t for him redirecting me, I do not know where I would be.”

Some House Republicans say the budget crunch leaves them with no choice but to seek such drastic changes.

The proposal from the subcommittee on justice and public safety programs released last week would eliminate nearly $3 million from the Department of Correction’s chaplaincy program. The subcommittee is charged with finding more than $200 million in spending cuts for the coming fiscal year to help close a budget gap for next year estimated by GOP leaders at more than $2.5 billion.

It would effectively end the current system of 43 paid clergy members who work at prisons. There are another 14 “temporary,” or contract, chaplains that cover other locations in the 70-prison system, said Betty Brown, the state’s correctional chaplaincy services coordinator.

The measure would also eliminate four of the five paid chaplains that serve eight youth development centers and nine detention centers for offenders in the juvenile justice system, for another $250,000 in savings. Rep. David Guice, R-Transylvania, a budget writer for criminal justice issues, acknowledges these and other cuts are painful but ministries will go on without paid chaplains.

“We feel like that there is staff on board there that can help facilitate coordination and the utilization of volunteers,” said Guice, a retired probation officer. “We have a tremendous volunteer pool from our churches and our communities now that are working in our prisons and doing a great job.”

Guice said subcommittee members will be able to consider amendments this coming week. First-term Rep. Craig Horn, R-Union, is worried the short-term cutting will cost the state in the long term because prisoners without religion or a stronger character when released likely will reoffend and become incarcerated again.

“I have no sympathy for the guy in prison … but the fact is there’s going to be a tomorrow and I don’t want them to come back, so they’ve got to have hope,” Horn said. “I don’t think entirely relying on volunteers is the way to go.”

Division of Prisons Director Bob Lewis said volunteers benefit prisoners, but it would be difficult to find volunteers who could work at the level of the state’s clinical chaplains. They are required to have a four-year degree, an advanced theology degree and one year of pastoral care training or two years in a pastorate.

The state chaplains facilitate and supervise religious activities for prisoners of all faiths. There are more than a dozen approved faith groups in the prisons, according to the Department of Correction, including Hinduism, American Indian and Wiccan besides the more common Christianity and Islam.

The state must meet constitutional standards of giving prisoners the chance to express their religious preference without promoting one religion over another.

“I’ve never found a volunteer interested in dealing with all religions,” said the Rev. Randall Speer, chaplain at Central Prison in Raleigh, which houses 890 prisoners, including more than 150 men on death row.

Lewis said permanent chaplains also are preferable because they can be called in at any time to provide a calming influence during a disturbance. They offer prisoners — and even correctional officers — someone with whom to share personal problems or grief. State chaplains also can alert prison officials to potential gang activity. Since religious services are among the few places where prisoners gather during the week, some offenders can use the meeting as a ruse to build up membership, Lewis said.

“You’re all working together to keep a peaceful environment,” Speer said. “We are a stabilizing force to help the staff and the inmate.”

Whitehurst, the ex-prisoner, is now a chaplain himself — one of the few paid by area churches to supplement work, not the state — at Pasquotank Correctional Institution, where he served time. Whitehurst said he’s not sure a volunteer could have figured out what he needed to get his life turned around like Askew did.

Askew “pretty much helped me understand that my life was not over,” Whitehurst said.