For over 14 years now, dating back to 1994, it has been my privilege to go to our local jail (detention center).
In 2004, my team of volunteers helped form a non-profit organization called Fresh Start For Life, Inc.
During our years of prison outreach, we have realized the need for religious services for inmates.
However, in view of the facts that, despite all the religious services going on in jails, we still have 85 percent of inmates committing new crimes and returning to prison, we certainly need more than religion for inmates.
When we ask the inmates who attend our classes, "How many of you consider yourselves Christians or religious?", usually most of them proudly raise their hands.
Some of them even tell us when they "got saved" or when they were "baptized".
Yet they keep breaking the law and returning to jail.
Of course, those stats could get worse than 85 percent recidivism without religious services, which deal with matters of the heart.
We do not want to dump religious services from the list rehabilitation tools available to inmates.
But obviously, religion by itself does not constitute a crime prevention policy, nor does religion equal rehabilitation in full.
Drug rehabilitation programs and GED are helpful in showing inmates the path to a life of better things than the penalties that come with crimes and drugs.
Inmates need parenting classes as well.
Many of the women who attend our Fresh Start sessions are mothers; some of them are grandmothers.
Many of the men who attend our Genesis Man sessions are fathers and grandfathers.
It is as common to see twenty-somethings as it is to see gray hairs in those practical living classes.
If I were in the position to recommend additional services to help turn inmates away from crimes and drugs, I would suggest these six key areas of life coaching for the incarcerated:

1. Character Code ~ classes on ethics; why it's important for society to have a standard of right and wrong, and why it is essential for every member of the community to live by this code of ethics
2. Work Ethic ~ how work is good for one's self-image and mental health; job skills to remain employed; how to prepare a modern resume; job interview tips
3. Community Service ~ why it is important to serve others; how to identify your gift or talent and use it to serve; where to find volunteer opportunities available in the community; how giving makes you feel fulfilled and useful
4. Personal Finance ~ how to manage money; why it's important to get out of consumer debt; how to prepare a monthly budget for yourself or for your family; how to understand the link between financial problems and temptations to commit crimes, use or deal drugs
5. Manhood Development (for male inmates) ~ how to become a real man others can respect and look up to; why it is important to understand that men cannot be good fathers until they learn how to be responsible males (manhood comes before fatherhood)
6. Computer Skills ~ how important computers are for today's family and economy; typing and word processing; desktop publishing; email; Internet

In my experience, the inmates usually seem extra interested and more attentive whenever we address one of these practical areas.
That's a strong clue as to what the inmates think and feel they really need to break out of the gloomy cycle of crime-incarceration-release.
While there are few inmates that truly have the "criminal mind", the vast majority of people in prison actually want to know how to get out of the rat race of criminal conduct with its prodigal results on the inmate, on his/her family, and on the community.
With more practical solutions, we can help serious-minded inmates bounce back to productive living.
With the use of alternative sentencing combined with practical living classes, America can more than lower the number of inmates by at least 48 percent, leaving only violent offenders behind bars to do their time.