NHSP-M WELCOMES PRISON FELLOWSHIP ACADEMY

CONCORD, NH – The Prison Fellowship Academy, created by the Christian nonprofit
organization Prison Fellowship, is now offered as a programing option at the New
Hampshire State Prison for Men in Concord. The prison Fellowship Academy takes
communities of incarcerated individuals through a yearlong intensive program that tackles
the roots of criminal behavior and supports total life transformation. The Academy targets
criminal thinking and behavior, life skills, addiction, victim impact, and prosocial culture
change, all while utilizing a biblically based and character-building curriculum. The goal of
the program is to allow participating residents to continue the process of becoming
transformed and restored individuals, both inside the correctional facility and outside in our
communities when they are released.

The Academy uses targeted curriculum and compassionate coaches to address topics such
as communication, goal setting, emotions, problem solving, value formation, and more.
Participants are challenged to identify strengths and weaknesses, learn a new value system
based on the Values of Good Citizenship™, and practice new ways of thinking. Upon
successful completion of the Academy, participants will have completed a life plan, which
will provide a personal roadmap to long-term success and will be seen as change agents,
prepared to take their places as good citizens in their communities inside and outside of
prison.
The initial class includes 17 residents that have volunteered to participate and have each
made a personal commitment to enroll in this program. The Academy curriculum includes
formation groups, 1:1 coaching, community meetings, community service projects and
guest speakers all to help build their life plan. Bi-weekly meetings consist of watching
videos, participating in tabletop exercises, and having discussions based around
accountability, faith, transformation, and fellowship. The four themes of the Academy are
based on decades of experience including Restore, Relate, Reset and Reflect.
The Academy currently operates in many prisons nationwide, and several studies have
proven that the program is successful. New Hampshire Department of Corrections has
partnered with Prison Fellowship for other programs, such as the Angel Tree, but this is the
first time that Prison Fellowship has brought the Prison Fellowship Academy to the New
Hampshire Department of Corrections.

Contact: Public Information Office Phone: 603-856-4555
105 Pleasant Street Email: pio@doc.nh.gov
Concord, NH 03302 Date: September 12, 2023