Prison, Reentry, and Advocacy Network (PRAN)

There are 1,566 state prisons and 98 federal prisons in the United States, along with 3,116 jails and 1,323 juvenile detention centers. Jesus calls us to visit those who are in prison, and there are over six thousand opportunities across the country to answer that call.

ELCA PRAN is dedicated to introducing individuals and congregations to opportunities for walking with those in prison.
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Nearly 40% of men and women leaving incarceration try to connect with a church or ministry. There is massive ministry potential all around us.

PRAN has reproducible models of reentry ministry that congregations can explore. If you are curious about warmly welcoming and effectively serving returning citizens, let us know. We will work together to help you move forward.

Prison advocacy is a movement that aims to improve the criminal justice system and address injustices within prisons. Many advocates seek to reform the prison system, abolish it or provide services to those caught in it. Our network seeks to equip individuals with the resources necessary to advocate for those impacted by incarceration.