IN-PERSON: The Elderwise classroom at the Vineyard Church
America’s punitive policies go far back in our history, but stressing accountability instead brings many more long-term benefits. Other countries like Norway and Germany see good people who need to be accountable instead of bad people who need to be punished. Near the end of sentences, they plan weekends at home and part-time jobs, to make those adjustments more successful. Long sentences for our tens of thousands of citizens locked away in America’s prisons hurt families at home, waste taxpayers’ money, and often disable people when they are released. Many people in prisons are too far from home to ever have family visits. They feel warehoused, bored, and very nervous about going home. They are angry about long sentences, especially for drug-related offenses. They are angry about the high percentage of people of color locked away. While teaching high school completion classes in the federal prison in Milan, Judy Wenzel learned that students needed to overcome their fears of being back in school, learn to be on time for class and with their assignments, and do their best work. They responded to being treated with respect and being seen as good people, and that respect was returned. Judy Wenzel taught high school completion classes in the federal prison in Milan, and is the author of Light from the Cage: 25 Years in a Prison Classroom.
