The Prison Initiative
To know Him and to make Him known "behind the walls"
The mission of the initiative is to train inmates to live inaccordance with biblical principles and to equip them for the unique ministry opportunities afforded by their incarceration.
Over 95% of all prisoners in South Carolina will return to our streets. What do we want inmates to be like when they return? Studies in and out of South Carolina prisons demonstrate that consistent participation in faithbased programming creates safer prisons and reduces recidivism: that is, reduces the percentage of inmates who return to prison.
Improving the culture of our prisons, exposing inmates to the gospel and offering inmates an opportunity to grow to maturity in their faith will have an impact on many of the 15,000 inmates released from South Carolina prisons each year.
The Prison Initiative is an effort to reach the men and women who are incarcerated in South Carolina prisons. After visiting Angola Prison and seeing the impact of the seminary program there, South Carolina Corrections Director Jon Ozmint has pledged his cooperation with Columbia International University in this endeavor.
"While there are distinct differences between Angola and our prison system in South Carolina, those differences can be accommodated by developing a program that would fit our needs. Under the direction of Dr. David Osterlund, CIU has accommodated those differences. The spiritual impact of the program is undeniable. What is also undeniable is the positive impact that serious faith-based program participation has on individual inmates and on the system as a whole. The long-term and proven results of the privately funded program will be safer prisons and lower recidivism. In that respect, it will benefit all South Carolina taxpayers." 
This Associate of Arts program for prisoners is an accredited degree program, and will be offered only to inmates who meet and
maintain high standards of personal conduct and meet the University's standards for academic achievement. The curriculum consists of:
63 undergraduate hours
19 in a Bible core
9 hours of Theology
7 hours of Evangelism training
3 in intercultural studies
4 hours of Field Education
7 hours of English classes
3 hours of Speech classes
6 hours in Humanities
3 hours of Psychology
6 hours in Math and Education
The intercultural studies classes will assist in penetrating the barriers between the ethnic groups within the prison, and the field education experiences will be classes where learning is applied through the teaching of Bible classes, sharing of one's faith, and opportunities to preach. The english and speech classes will allow for more effective communication. The humanities will broaden the 'missionary's' life experiences and provide points of contact with other inmates, and the psychology classes will develop interpersonal skills. Math and education classes will round out the accredited program.
By law, incarcerated inmates are not eligible for state or federal aid. In South Carolina, inmates are required to work, but most are not paid for their labor. Instead, those who are eligible receive reductions in their sentence for work and good behavior. Most inmates have no source of income. Like all inmates, those enrolled in this program will be required to work, but they will not be paid. They are willing to serve, but they need your help.
With the approval of the Board and by using graduate students, faculty, and qualified adjuncts, CIU has committed to keep costs low. The initial commitment to send a single inmate through the program is $4,150, including all instruction, books, and supplies.
In order to reach the South Carolina prison population, the Prison Initiative is asking South Carolina churches, businesses, and individuals to financially support this endeavor. Funds donated to the effort will be put into a scholarship account at CIU to be used solely by inmates in the program. Inmates in the program will communicate regularly with sponsors.
Gifts are tax-deductible. To contribute or for more information, call us at (803)754-4100, toll free at 1-800-777-2227, or by email at prisoned@ciu.edu.