"He has showed you, oh man and woman, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8 (RSV)

Well intentioned individuals have asked that question (and at times cynical and not so well intentioned individuals). Yes, even I have asked myself that question after a particularly difficult day walking cell to cell in a prison with an average of 1,600 incarcerated souls living doubled up in the space of a good-sized utility closet. However, I say with conviction and most emphatically, we all stand to win by going to prison. We miss the gift of "our community behind the wall" if we do not connect with those living there.

Who lives behind the wall? Men, women, youth - someone's mother, father, daughter, son, grandson, or granddaughter. Many are guilty, a few are innocent. Each is precious in the eyes of the God who created all of us, as are the victims of those who have suffered harm and violence because of their actions.

I've had the joy of rounding cell houses (going cell to cell), counseling, and teaching at Stateville since 1986 and I can tell you that I'm incredibly blessed to have done so. The weekly class I teach, Houses of Healing, a powerful curriculum that includes anger/violence management, the principles of restorative justice (offenders taking accountability for their actions against victims), addictions and recovery, and learning to relate in a healthy way to those we live with, has been a paticular gift to me. I have witnessed men growing in respect both for themselves and those they live in community with. The men are not the only recipients; I am as well. Each time I leave Stateville Prison, I've grown a little more.

In the end, we visit those in prison because it's a win/win situation for everyone. When offenders receive help, a victim's pain is validated and acknowledged in a positive and healing way, as well as the community we all come from.