325-617-7292; 325-212-7607 Address: 410 N. Chadbourne St., San Angelo, TX 76903
It is our belief as Catholic people that we can bring a message of faith, hope, justice, and reconciliation to all affected by the tragedy of crime and violence whether they are offenders, victims, or public servants. Criminal Justice Ministry (CJM) for the Diocese of San Angelo recruits, screens, and trains volunteers from parishes throughout the diocese to minister both inside the walls and in the community. In order to serve this special population, we work directly with our parishes and offer formation and ongoing education to help people understand the needs of those we serve. As Catholics, we are called to social ministry and must act with justice, love tenderly, serve one another, and walk humbly with God.
The CJM Program focuses on these areas:
Organize and lead Catholic worship, prayer, and catechetical programs for the adult and youth offenders and by holding Kolbe Prison Ministry Retreats in the state prisons.
Provide parish support through re-entry services to families, victims, and all others in contacting those involved.
Assist ex-offenders and their families, including those on parole and probation, with basic needs and spiritual direction.
Within the 29 counties of our diocese, there are 50 incarceration facilities with over 8,000 Catholics, making our prison population one of the largest "parishes" in the diocese. Needless to say, it takes many dedicated volunteers (lay, religious, and clergy) who are willing to minister to these fellow Catholics through worship services, prayer, and teaching.
Criminal Justice System
The criminal justice system consists of 3 main parts:
Law enforcement agencies
Courts and accompanying prosecution and defense attorneys
Agencies for detaining and supervising offenders, such as jails, prisons, and probation agencies
In the criminal justice system, these distinct agencies operate together as the principal means of maintaining the rule of law within society. The following information is statistics in the U.S. and Texas, showing their characteristics and the impact of drugs on a community.
Criminal Justice System in the United States
5% of the world's population, yet almost 25% of the world's prisoners
2.2 million in prison or jail
4.8 million on probation or parole
1 in 110 adults (>18 yrs) are incarcerated, 1/23 Black, 1/56 Hispanic, 1/147 White
9.6% of the incarcerated are women
Over 50% have some form of mental illness
Annual spending on incarceration is about $80 billion
Criminal Justice System in Texas
1 in 25 adults are in prison, jail, or on supervision (parole or probation)
TDCJ operating budget for 2014 was just over $3.2 billion
Characteristics of the Incarcerated
Reared in a fatherless household
Physically or sexually abused as a child or young adult