CR Inside® is a program that brings Celebrate Recovery® to those in our local jails and prisons. Many view our prison system as a revolving door where an inmate, upon being released from prison, repeats the same actions and behaviors that got them there in the first place. CR Inside® is there to show them their future can be different, whether they struggle with alcohol/drug dependency; anger; gambling addictions; co-dependency; physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; sexual addictions; or another area.
CR Inside® volunteers take this hope directly to those who can’t choose to come to a meeting, at a time where they have been forcibly separated from the environment that may have helped keep them trapped. This opportunity to look at their lives without the effects of drugs, alcohol, fear, or abuse may be the first time that they have been able to look at their lives, and choose to do something different.
Covid-19 threw a lot of programs for a loop, CR Inside® included. In our area, Jefferson County is also in the midst of a series of multi-year re-construction and renovation projects to update the county facilities, and many programs have been affected. As a result, we are currently working on getting programs restarted at the Jefferson County Jail.
Programs for Men and Women
In the Jefferson County jail, CR Inside® programs are offered to both men and women at the same time. That means we have a strong need for both men and women to volunteer, since we aren’t allowed to serve anyone if we can’t provide both Men’s and Women’s programs.
If you are wondering how you might help change someone else’s life with a spare hour or two in your week by helping with this program, please leave us a comment below (with your contact information, please!), and we’ll get back to you.
Forms
Here are some of the forms that you may find helpful.
Jail Volunteer Clearance Application: You’ll need to fill out this form and pass it along to our CR Inside Coordinator before you can participate in the CR Inside® program at the Jefferson County jail. You’ll also need to provide a copy of a state issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license.
WI Department of Corrections DAI Volunteer, Pastoral Visitor, Program Guest & Intern Orientation Manual: While this document is intended for volunteers, pastoral visitors, program guests and unpaid interns working at Division of Adult Institutions facilities operated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, the advice they give may be helpful to understand the goals, limits, and practices in use at state correctional facilities, as the County Sherriff’s office will share many of them. The document also provides good advice for maintaining, healthy, safe, and legal limits for involvement with inmates. It’s long (64 pages) and contains forms etc. that don’t apply to our program offerings, but may help give some useful background advice.
Take action
Want to learn more about helping? Fill out a comment below (which will not be visible to anyone but the CR team) with your contact information and we’ll follow up to give your more information and get you started on your journey.