Officials with Men of Valor, a prison ministry operating in Middle Tennessee, testified before the state House Judiciary Committee last week on effective reentry services.
Raul Lopez, executive director, and Darnell Ford, property manager at Men of Valor, testified.
Members of the House Judiciary Committee are considering legislation to improve Tennessee’s criminal justice system and reduce the state’s recidivism rate.
State Rep. Michael G. Curcio, R-Dickson, chairs the committee.
Men of Valor Executive Director Raul Lopez spoke with prepared remarks, as stated in a press release the organization put out.
“As you all consider enacting policy to help bring down the state’s recidivism rate, I respectfully ask that you remember that every single person in our criminal justice system is loved by his Creator and has inherent dignity and worth,” Lopez said.
“All of us are capable of redemption and not one person is below God’s infinite grace.”
Men of Valor Men’s Minister Darnell Ford, meanwhile, also delivered remarks.
“Men of Valor equips a man to become a father, husband, neighbor and ultimately the man God created him to be,” Ford said.
“In 2019 we had the privilege to minister to over 100 men in aftercare. We currently have 52 men living on our campus where I serve as property manager.”
Men of Valor is a prison ministry in Middle Tennessee committed to reconciling men to God, their families, and society. The recidivism rate for Men of Valor participants—with programming both before release and up to a year afterward—is between nine and 15 percent, far lower than the state and national average, which hovers around 70 percent of prisoners who are re-arrested within three years, according to a press release
In 2018, Men of Valor Curt Campbell told The Tennessee Star the program originated in 1997.
The program receives money from grants, churches, and mostly individuals. Resources provided include addiction recovery support, employment, housing, healthcare, and learning how to transform themselves into better husbands, fathers, and members of society, Campbell said.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
