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Resources: Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
PARC corresponds with and mails a directory of these resources to prisoners, their friends and family members. We are often the first point of contact for people to connect with prisoners' rights organizations, community organizations, prison literature and arts projects, family and visiting resources, health care and legal resources, parole and pre-release resources, and the prison abolition movement.
Download a PDF copy of the November 2024 Edition here.
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Aleph Institute The Aleph Institute is a non-profit Jewish organization dedicated to assisting and caring for the wellbeing of members of specific populations that are isolated from the regular community, including prisoners and people institutionalized or at risk of incarceration due to mental illness or addictions. Aleph addresses their religious, educational, and spiritual needs, advocates and lobbies for their civil and religious rights, and provides support to their families at home left to fend for themselves. Jewish prisoners may write to receive free books, regular monthly literature, holiday offerings, and family programs. |
Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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American Bible Academy ABA provides high-quality, advanced Bible correspondence courses at no cost to the incarcerated through its Inmate Scholarship Program. Inmates and their legally recognized spouses can receive commercial-quality 120-page textbooks, or download free Bible textbooks, commentaries, courses, Gospel tracts and other Christian resources at www.abarc.org. Inmates may also access American Bible Academy courses through the Edovo app. Course materials available in both English and Spanish. |
Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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Anthroposophical Prison Outreach Project Do you, as a prisoner, feel that there must be some meaning in your prison experience that is still to be discovered? Or that you can give it meaning? If so, you might be interested in Anthroposophy — the path from the spirit in man to the spirit in the universe. Anthroposophy embraces a spiritual view of the human being and cosmos, but its emphasis is on knowing, not just faith. It is a path in which the human heart and hand, and especially our capacity for thinking, are essential. You may write to receive an initial package of literature containing a booklet titled Self-Development In The Penitentiary, as well as other articles and meditation exercises. |
Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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Association For Research and Enlightenment Provides free spiritual and uplifting books to inmates, chaplains, and prison libraries. This program provides opportunities for inmates to create profound, positive change in their body, mind and spirit through the wisdom found in the Edgar Cayce material.Prisoners are limited to one book every two months.
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Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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Chuang Yen Monastery Our organization sends free Buddhist books to prisoners who request them, answers questions regarding Buddhist beliefs and practice that prisoners may have. Sends nationally. For correspondence course on Buddhism, write to: |
Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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Compassion Works For All Provides monthly Dharma Friends newsletters, and also the following resource lists; Personal Health and Nutrition, 12 Step and Buddhism, Buddhist Resources, Christian Spiritual Resources, Hindu and Yoga Spiritual Resources, Other Spiritual and Psychological Healing Resources, Todd Fletcher's Buddhist Resource List, Ani Tendron's Recommended Buddhist Readings. |
Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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Human Kindness Foundation Prison-Ashram Project The Human Kindness Foundation's Prison-Ashram Project sends free books and newsletters to people in prisons and jails all over the U.S., including We're All Doing Time by the late Bo Lozoff. HKF encourages a way of life based upon three common principles taught by the great sages of all religions: Simple living, a dedication to service, and a commitment to personal spiritual practice. Write to request materials in English or Spanish. Limited materials also available to addresses outside the U.S. |
Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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ISKCON Prison Ministry ISKCON Prison Ministry (IPM) donates books about: karma, reincarnation, mantra meditation and bhakti-yoga. These books teach you how to live a godly life and find internal peace and joy, no matter what your external circumstances are. We have books in English and Spanish. If you need books in another language, please ask us and we’ll see if we can get it for you. In your letter be sure to tell us if you are allowed hardcover or only softcover books, and how many books at a time. We also donate books, CDs (lectures and music) and DVDs, to chapel libraries; you can give our information to your chaplain. If you are allowed to receive CDs yourself, let us know that as well. |
Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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Islamic Society of North America ISNA's vision is to be an exemplary and unifying Islamic organization in North America that contributes to the betterment of the Muslim community and society at large. Sends Qurans and other introductory books on Islamic study to prison libraries and inmates. Ability to send books depends on the prison’s policies. Also publishes a bi-monthly magazine, Islamic Horizons for $24/year. Serves people nationwide. |
Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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Jewish Prisoner Services International JPSI is a Jewish chaplaincy organization that strives to fulfill the Talmudic obligation of all Jews being responsible for each other, along with other religious mandates of their faith. JPSI strives to insure that Jewish prisoners are permitted to practice their faith by providing the advocacy and religious materials to further that goal. Write for a prisoner info form. Follow us on LinkedIn! Serves Jewish prisoners nationally; expect delay in response. |
Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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Maoist Internationalist Ministry of Prisons Maoist Internationalist Ministry of Prisons, MIM(Prisons), is a revolutionary anti-imperialist group fighting criminal injustice, helping prisoners to organize and educate themselves. Sends books to prisoners, and offers prisoners a free subscription to their newspaper. Write to MIM(Prisons) for a free prisoner subscription and to get involved in revolutionary organizing and education projects. |
Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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Masjid Sunnah Grand Rapids Inmate Assistance Program Write for free Qur'an, prayer rugs, and kuffis as well as other books on Al-Islam. Conducts visits in Michigan. Nationwide services. |
Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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Mother Earth Ministries Wiccan clergy are available to counsel, teach, provide information, and answer questions, by mail and sometimes in person, to incarcerated individuals. We provide assistance to inmates wishing to make Wicca their official religion. Copies of the book, Enchantment Encumbered, are available for $20 (including shipping, and we accept stamps as payment).
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Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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Prison Mindfulness Institute (Prison Dharma Network ) The goal is to provide prisoners, prison staff, and prison volunteers with the most effective, proven tools for rehabilitation, self-transformation, and personal & professional development through mindfulness-based interventions (MBI’s). The Prison Dharma Network/Prison Mindfulness Institute (PMI) works with volunteers who offer meditation inside prisons. Its Books Behind Bars program will mail mindfulness, meditation, and Buddhist books to people inside prison. It also offers the Path of Freedom (Mindfulness-Based Emotional Intelligence) correspondence course. The Path of Freedom (and other courses by PMI) can also be found on the Edovo App (currently available in hundreds of US prisons). |
Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |
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Set Free Prison Ministries Provides Bible study courses in English and Spanish to people free of charge. Curriculum consists of Bible courses from the Navigators in Colorado Springs, Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and Emmaus Correspondence School in Iowa. Provides free postage both mailing and return. Serves people nationally. |
Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources |