Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The mission of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) Pre-Release Program is to create and maintain a prison environment that fosters respect for God’s law, the rights of others, and to encourage the spiritual and moral regeneration of offenders.
This faith-based pre-release program concept was implemented in March 1997 at the Carol Vance Unit in Richmond, through a coordinated effort between the TDCJ and Prison Fellowship Ministries and involves the use of many community volunteers. The program emphasizes restorative justice, by which the offender works to restore himself, his family, his victims and his community.
Through a regimen of life-skills training, academic instruction, job preparation, community-service opportunities, chapel and Bible studies, support-groups, and mentoring relationships. The IFI Program focuses on instilling six transformational values often deficient in an offender’s life:
INTEGRITY—living honestly with self and others
RESTORATION—mending relationships with God, families, and community (including victims, when appropriate)
RESPONSIBILITY—accepting ownership of choices, behaviors, and their consequences
FELLOWSHIP—working together to make a healthy, infraction-free community
AFFIRMATION—giving and receiving honest feedback and encouragement
PRODUCTIVITY—learning the value of work, education, and contribution to the community
The InnerChange Program consists of a 30-day orientation (at a minimum), 18 months of programming and at least six months of aftercare upon release. Offenders selected for participation are from Harris, Dallas, Bexar and surrounding counties.
Stacie Woods
IFI Selection Coordinator
P.O. Box 99
Huntsville, TX 77342-0099
(936) 437-3035