Partakers does not make a choice between personal responsibility and social justice; we believe the two are intimately interwoven.  We cross the bridge into prisons and work with prisoners in an effort to advance their healing transformation and rehabilitation. 

We firmly believe the incarcerated must be given the opportunity to heal and the tools necessary to repair holes they've torn in the social fabric.  Few people realize that 97% of prisoners return to society and 40-66% of those released subsequently return to prison.  In light of these statistics, it is crucial that prison time be used to rehabilitate and educate prisoners so that they may lead productive, even inspiring lives as leaders and role models when they return to their communities.

Partakers volunteers work to cross boundaries of race, class, criminal history, age, and social status.  Mentoring and tutoring prisoners brings us closer to the experience of people who are marginalized and oppressed and advances the healing transformation of prisoners and volunteers alike.

We seek to make free citizens aware of the injustices of the criminal "justice" system, emphasizing the inherent racism of our prison system (over 70% of prisoners in America are minorities) as well as the role of addiction in prisoners' lives (well over 80% are addicts).  In addition to working directly with prisoners, we advocate for criminal justice reform through education, lobbying, preaching and "calls to action". 

Partakers has made a significant impact on individuals and larger society.  We believe that without compassion there is no justice.  As a faith-based organization, we support every individual's inherent worth and their capacity to grow and change.  We believe our country can advance a system of justice that focuses on restoring the offender to the community while addressing larger systemic issues of poverty, racism, and inequality in education.

LEARNING AND EMPOWERMENT Partakers mobilizes volunteers to gain power through knowledge and action. We offer support and training through formal orientations and workshops, although most learning takes place through interaction with prisoners and from exposure to the criminal justice system.  Equally important are our efforts to empower prisoners to effect systemic change.

ADVOCACY
We have lobbied our legislators, testified on bills affecting the incarcerated and those at risk of incarceration, and worked tirelessly for sane, just policies and laws. Presently, we are particularly focused on mandatory minimum sentence reform, diversion to treatment (and alternative sentencing for nonviolent offenders), and CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) reform,  through the Public Safety Act of 2007.

JUSTICE EDUCATION
Outside of prison, our volunteers and former prisoners have educated the public, particularly in faith communities, institutions of higher learning, and professional workshops on the injustice and inherent racism of the criminal "justice" system. 

Other prison justice websites:

www.cjpc.org
www.360degrees.org
www.prisonactivist.org
www.crjustice.org