The SET FREE INDEED name comes from John 8:36 (“If the Son has set you free you shall be free indeed). Our vision is to support the vulnerable with prayer, mentorship, good literature, study resources, and counsel. We believe the broken will find healing, behavior will improve, souls will be saved, relationships will be restored, and recidivism reduced as we lead with love and point people to the transforming power of Christ.
SUMMARY
- Set Free Indeed (SFI) is a reentry-focused program.
- SFI is a non-denominational program that loves all and serves all.
- SFI supports inmates (and their families) as they move through their time of incarceration and transition back into the community.
- SFI’s resources are designed to help inmates develop a positive mindset, healthy habits, and honorable goals. A 285-page prepare-for-your-successful-exit book (The Set Free Inmate and Family Handbook) is one of our resources that supports this goal.
- SFI is a faith-based program that provides encouragement, referral support, teaching videos, inspirational literature, a resource and services book, and a prepare-for-your-successful-exit handbook.
- SFI desires to see a reduction in crime and recidivism, bring healing to broken families, and help inmates regroup and set new priorities for the future.
- About a dozen SFI books have been approved by Dept of Corrections leadership for use in Washington State prisons.
CORE ASPECTS OF THE SET FREE INDEED PROGRAM
- The Set Free Indeed (SFI) program has a multi-approach plan to address the needs associated with recidivism. In general, SFI desires to 1) support and encourage families of inmates 2) encourage, redirect, and equip inmates so they will desire and be positioned for a productive future and 3) support inmates after their exit (providing counsel, encouragement, and important referral information).
- SFI (like the YMCA and Salvation Army)promotes positive, character-building Christian principles in a gentle, non-proselytizing way. We love all and desire to serve all.
- SFI’s 285-page SET FREE Handbook is designed to help inmates and family members find hope, regroup and refocus, identify triggers to bad behavior and barriers to success in the past, and create a practical action plan conducive to a positive future. See attachment. More than 50% of inmates have children. We hope that SFI resources and services will help these families have a more stable home environment.
- SFI also makes available a 60-page Resource Directory (a listing of free resources and services in Washington State). Here is the link to that book: https://online.visual-paradigm.com/share/book/resource-listing-digital-file-19l6t9jq22
- SFI makes available a variety of character/integrity building books, and a mental-health book titled, Hope and Helps to battle depression. Here is the link to that book: https://online.visual-paradigm.com/share/book/depresson-book-digital-copy-19kvm9yy1n
Please use our CONTACT form if you would like to share a question or prayer request, volunteer to be a mentor, pen-pal or counselor, or information on making a donation. Thank you!
STATUS REPORT
The stats are terrible:
- America has an incarceration epidemic. America houses more inmates – in total and per capita – than any other nation in the world.
- More than 2.1 million teens and 10 million adults are arrested each year in America.
- Almost 1/3 of inmates will be re-arrested within 12 months of their release.
- More than 2/3 of inmates will return to prison within 5 years of their release. I argue that for the most part, this is not because these individuals are incorrigible, it is because they lack sufficient skills, are without an adequate safety net/support system, and have limited employment and housing opportunities.
- Almost 50% of individuals have difficulty finding employment and housing after their release and have annual incomes below $10,000.
The system is broken
Studies show that “the prison experience negatively impacts lower-risk offenders.” That is, the longer a person stays in prison, the more likely they are to re-offend. The prison system punishes well but does not adequately rehabilitate or prepare inmates to succeed in the future.
The Set Free Indeed program is small but has an excellent track record of helping, encouraging, resourcing, and equipping. More than 100 inmates have benefited from our resources, in-prison support groups have been established, and several have been assisted with reentry issues. Our recidivism rate over the last 24 months is zero.
We provide counsel, inspirational writings and audio files, and life-skill development teaching videos. More than a dozen of our devotional, mental health, and prepare-for-your-exit books have been approved by the Washington State Dept. of Corrections for use in incarceration facilities.
RESOURCES
Set Free Indeed Prison Ministry resources are profiled below:
- Set Free Inmate and Family Handbook: We believe our 295-page Prepare-For-Your-Exit handbook will encourage, inspire, and equip the hurting. Written by a former pastor, community leader, case manager, and inmate, the book presents practical advice, recommendations, and contact information for dozens of programs and businesses that desire to help.
Click HERE for a digital copy of the book.
Click HERE to order a physical copy of the book from a DOC-approved source.
- Set Free Resource booklet: A collection of approximately 400 resources and services available to inmates exiting in Washington State.
Click HERE for a digital copy of the book.
- We have an inspirational book on Battling Depression. include a devotional book with a focus on battling depression
Click HERE for a digital copy of the book.
Click HERE to order a physical copy of the book from a DOC-approved source.
- Several of our life-skills teaching videos are posted HERE.
- Several testimonies (Stories from the inside) are posted HERE.
- One-minute thought for the day devotional recordings are posted HERE.
HOW YOU CAN FINANCIALLY SUPPORT OUR WORK TO INMATES
Please access the links below if you feel led to financially supporting the Set Free ministry. Donations help us to develop and circulate additional resources to inmates and prison ministry leaders.
- $50: Spread the Word Initiative: Pledge 50 – Etsy
- $250: Spread the Word Initiative: Pledge 250 – Etsy
- $500: Spread the Word Initiative: Pledge 500 – Etsy
For additional information, please write to SetFreeInquiries@gmail.com