Freedom Session will also work well in Canadian federal and American State prisons where the inmates serve longer sentences.  In shorter term prison facilities where sentences are less than 2 years we have found the average time an inmate actually serves is between 3 and 6 months.  With short term inmates, we suggest you only use Participant's Guide (Sessions 00 - 09).

Freedom Session "inside" can run very much the same as in the residential recovery home except you will need to be more sensitive to the meeting schedule the administration offers you.  You will also have to watch for participants who are just going through the motions, looking for leniency in their probation application.

Ideally, "FS inside" would be directed by a Christian Prison Chaplain who cares about the inmates and would know how to customize the program to the setting.

The greatest concern inmates often have is in writing information down as it may incriminate them later.  Suggest that they write sensitive information in a code form (initials, etc) that will not create problems for them or others if their books were confiscated.

Group discussion questions through the homework questions (led by a chaplain or qualified group therapist) also work well.

The ideal schedule would be very much like the resident recovery home schedule.  We have seen FS work well via DVD and taught live.  Obviously, the live teaching is better because it can be slanted towards a single gender but it is not always easy finding someone with a strong teaching gift willing to teach in prison.

If you would like to bring Freedom Session into a prison near you, we encourage you to talk to the pastoral staff at your church and/or your local missions department and obtain their support.  In certain situations, co-sponsorship through Freedom Session International may be available if your local church is unable to help you.  We prayerfully consider all inquiries.