Becket Fund Defends IFI, Faith-Based Initiatives Before O'Connor, 8th CircuitFeb 14, 2007 Becket Fund Vice President Anthony Picarello argued before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of Prison Fellowship Ministries and their InnerChange Freedom Initiative, a comprehensive faith-based prisoner rehabilitation program with a remarkable record of success. Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor sat on the three person panel that heard the arguments. In the case of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State et al. v. Prison Fellowship Ministries et al., An Iowa district court Judge shut down IFI because it was "pervasively sectarian" (too religious) and ordered IFI to repay $1.5 million that the state had already paid for services already rendered. IFI was created to combat the significant social problem of recidivism in prisoners. By all accounts, the program has been a dramatic success. Studies from the state of Texas and the University of Pennsylvania show that IFI cuts the recidivism rate in half by creating a stable support system inside of prison and out and instilling a sense of responsibility in the participants. Keep checking the Becket Fund website for updates on this case. To hear the argument in full, click here. Relevant Cases
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