Faith and forgiveness: The unexpected path to peace in Carter County's jail system

CARTER COUNTY — Inmates at the Carter County Detention Center are finding reasons to believe rehabilitation is not just a word thrown around in the legal system, and perhaps for the first time, many are also embracing a new word...restoration.

Through exposure to various programs that connect jail and law enforcement officials, inmates’ families and the faith community, behavior inside the CCDC has undergone a drastic change, according to jail administrator Joey Bruner.

He took over the administrator’s position in August. In just four months Bruner reported, “Due to some things we are doing differently, there has been a drastic change in the atmosphere inside the jail.”

Bruner and Carter County Sheriff Alonzo Bradwell decided to test their theory that the best way to change the behavior of incarcerated individuals is to temper control with compassion.

Bruner, a former Ripley County deputy, said he has no problem being an enforcer when encountering a situation that calls for it.

But, he also has a big problem with law enforcement using inhumane treatment to achieve their ends.

Simply put, “We treat our inmates like human beings,” said Bruner.

In fact, over the past several months there have been no internal conflicts.

This phenomenon is believed to be largely due to the influence of various ministries such as Compass Recovery, Big Boys’ Ministries, Savage 2 Saints, prison ministry teams from West Point Pentecostal Church as well as several other churches in Van Buren and Ellsinore which routinely schedule visits at the detention center.

Many of these organizations and groups are former felons whose lives have been transformed through a relationship and continued fellowship with God.

The assurance of forgiveness and unconditional love can be a balm to broken people who have all but given up on themselves.

Among the more humane things that Bruner and Bradwell have done at CCDC, is to allow the faith community broader access to the pods for spiritual counseling, Bible studies and prayer.

And, it hasn’t stopped there.

Inmates are able to attend church services held inside the Carter County Courtroom.

This one concession has been life-changing for both inmates and their families.

A mother of one of the inmates travels more than two and a half hours to visit via kiosk with her son.

Most of the time the only communication families have with an inmate is through CTC systems, devices by which conversation and text time can be pre-paid.

“The only time I had seen my son since he has been in jail was once, through a window, when the system was down,” said the mother.

She got to watch him be baptized on a Sunday in December.

Prior to his transfer to CCDC, that would not have been possible.

A traumatic experience at one of the previous institutions left her son in a catatonic state, unable to participate in a video chat.

Abuse in prison is all too common, and the innocent: families of the imprisoned also must find a way to bear up under the fear and horrors of a system that can be extremely unsafe for those locked inside, even for nonviolent offenders.

“I am part of a group called Parents4Prisonreform, which seeks to change that,” she said.

There is no doubt in this mother’s mind that her son’s transfer to CCDC was an answer to her prayers, and she is able to look forward to the holidays with the hope that she did not have several months ago.

The CCDC offers other programs as well.

Participation in drug court programs is also having an impact, said Bradwell.

“Minimum security inmates who are willing are allowed to participate in work projects, where they give back to the community,” he said.

Deputies volunteer their time to help supervise.

“With 33 inmates here, you would think we would have a lot of serious problems, but this is honestly one of the smoothest operations we have in Carter County,” said Bradwell.

An unexpected benefit has been the impact the success of the programs at CCDC are having on work morale.

“Being in law enforcement can sometimes cause you to become numb. But this has made our jobs much more meaningful. We aren’t just cuffing offenders. Once they are here, we are giving tools they can use to change.”

For Bruner, Bradwell and the inmates who will eventually be released back into the public sector, the ultimate goal is that they will remain free and perhaps one day they in turn will be a positive influence for someone else.