Jeremiah Prison Ministry Newsletter

JPM is an outreach of Martinsburg Christian Center, Martinsburg, WV Celebrated 12 years of Prison Ministry in 2011
I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU VISITED ME MATT. 25:36B JUNE 2012 VOLUME 12, ISSUE 7

Time for a face lift

I thought it was time for a change. I hope you like it. I am using a different format as I will have to upgrade my computer and I dont want to have to buy new software. Oh, its 1:44 am Sunday morning, I couldnt sleep so I decided to write the newsletter. I wanted to do our newsletter on Friday but I physically couldnt do it. I woke up at 3:30am in much pain, back and hands plus I was so tired I couldnt think straight. Tom went to the prison to see an inmate at Coal Township SCI. I am believing one day I will wake up pain free full of energy. Going to the prison is an all day event for me. Our travel time is anywhere from 2 1/2 to 5 hours round trip to furthest prison plus with sitting my legs swell. Doctor told me its an aging issue. Can we get off of this aging thingy? Please pray for me. The best part is Tom is healthy and growing older with me! Its hard to believe that time has gone by so quickly since we moved in December. June is almost gone! Wow! We have completed a lot of projects inside our new home. Our flower garden is growing so beautiful! God is so good to us! I heard a song the other day and I keep hearing it in my spirit. The Presence of the Lord Here, I feel Him in the atmosphere Yes, God is everywhere! We serve an almighty God full of power! I continue to have good days and bad days with the nerve pain in hands. Occasionally my back causes me grief too. Ah, growing older is not for wimps!

Revs. Tom & Monica OUR MISSION & VISION Our Mission to help men in prison reach their fullest in the Lord. What we do Ministering to their spirit, soul and body, though one on one mentoring as their spiritual advisor and friend. How we began Jeremiah Prison Ministry began on November 30, 1999, which was birth out of a bond for a young man that made a wrong choice in life.. Our Vision to be able to go into the prison chapels without the inmates having to take us off their visiting list. We know with God ALL things ARE Possible!

My trip to Delaware
I so enjoyed my stay with my daughters and their families at the end of May. Its never long enough but I dont want to be away from sweetheart too long. I finally got to see the most adorable baby boy in the world. Yeah I know I am prejudice since he is my first great grandson. And can you believe it I didnt get a picture with of me and him. Bummer! Ethan is now 4 months old. My son in law, Dale, has retired from his state job and is now working for a cable installation company. He isnt retired from working! Keep him your prayers, long hours and one day off.

In this Newsletter PA Prison Reform Keeping you informed As of January 31, 2012, a total of 2,339 offenders who had been approved for parole remained in prison. Each year, the state spends $77 million to keep these offenders already approved for parole in prison. Approximately two-thirds had incomplete housing plans; and the remainder had miscellaneous reasons for remaining in prison, including failure to pay into the Crime Victims Compensation Fund. Sentencing Changes :Risk Assessments Guidelines. Establishes up-front risk assessments in state sentencing. This will identify high-risk cases that require state prison and lower-risk cases that may be better managed in less expensive alternative programs before judges and district attorneys determine an individual's sentence. Keep Low-Risk Cases Out of Prison. Prevents low-level misdemeanors from being sentenced to state prison. Research demonstrates that imprisonment in state prisons does not make offenders less likely to commit crimes after release, and may make them more likely to do so. hose who commit low-level misdemeanors will remain in local jails, keeping their support systems such as families, close by. Alternative Program Eligibility. As an alternative to traditional prison, offenders may be sentenced to one of the state's alternative sentencing programs, designed for nonviolent criminals, often dealing with substance abuse. SB 100 makes the following changes: Eligible offenders could be sentenced to a state-level alternative program even if certain mandatory minimum sentences apply. Currently, minimum sentences disqualify many otherwise eligible offenders.

Page 2 We are encouraged by the reform and at the same discouraged as there was no reform for a life sentence without parole for teenagers. PA doesnt have life with parole for teenagers. We need to continue to pray for more reform. Pastor Toms Preaching Corner will return next month.

The maximum age for an inmate sentenced to Quehanna Motivational Boot Camp would be raised from 35 to 40. Makes additional offenders ineligible for alternative sentencing programs. Those that would no longer be eligible include offenders registered under Megan's Law. County "HOPE" Courts. Allows counties to establish an innovative probation program that provides swift, predictable sanctions on probation violators. Modeled after Hawaii's Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) program, this program incentivizes probationers to stay drug and alcohol free. Thanks to HOPE, positive drug tests in Hawaii have dropped more than 70 percent and new arrests cut in half, saving an estimated $4,000 to $8,000 per offender.

PRAYER CORNER ~Pray for Kevin, Chris, Mike, Domino, Michael& Doug that God blesses them financially. ~Pray for Lewis, Corey, Bob, Greg, & Eric to receive favor for commutation and retrials. ~Pray for Jeremiah as we continue to believe for a miracle for his release. ~Pray for continued healing for Bob, Larry, & Harvey. Leah remains cancer free and will finish high school in the fall. ~Pray for Andy our grandson, he carries a 4.0 avg at DSU and just returned from China. ~Pray for our family spiritually, physically and financially. ~Pray for my brother, Norman. Pray for Toms brother, John, as he will be starting dialysis. ~Pray for the salvation of the world. Pray for inmates and their families, our Nation, our leaders, our military and their families. ~Pray for prison reform in our nation. ~Pray for Bill our dear friend & his wife Rose for restored health. ~Pray for Dotty & her husband Stan for good health. ~Pray for us for strength and wisdom in all we do, that we remain cancer free and healthy to do Gods work, for our cars to be mechanically sound. You are an Extended Hand and a vital part of this ministry. Together we are making a difference with Jesus Christ, taking life to a dark place! We go because you send us. Thank You so much!

Deportation of nonviolent immigrants in state prisons. Allows nonviolent illegal immigrants be deported before serving their minimum sentence. Parole Changes: Redirecting Technical Parole Violators. Sends technical parole violators to community corrections center, a transition between prison and returning to the community, instead of expensive prisons. Technical violations include failing a drug test or missing an appointment with a parole officer, not violent acts or new crimes. Parole violators would remain nearer to their families, work and community, making for easier transition into life outside the corrections system. Parole Time Credits. Allows the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole to grant convicted parole violators a credit for previous time spent on parole before reinstitution. Improve Parole Hearings. Utilizes more efficient communication technology to increase parole hearing capacity. System inefficiencies and lack of capacity for parole hearings have resulted in 1,900 inmates locked up in prison when they would otherwise qualify for parole. Programmatic changes: Eliminate Pre-Release. Repeals the pre-release program in its entirety. Currently, the prerelease program allows eligible low-risk offenders to transition from prison to the community corrections system before they serve their minimum sentence. Safe Community Reentry Program. Creates the Safe Community Reentry Program to bolster the corrections systems through partnerships with non-profit or for-profit entities that can aid an offender's successful reentry back into communities.

Jeremiah Prison Ministry Revs. Tom & Monica Cohee 223 Cameo Dr. 717-352-0080 Fax: 717-352-0392 info@jeremiahprisonministry Were on the Web! www.jeremiahprisonministry.com

To Our Family & Friends We love you!

Your Editor: Rev. Monica Cohee