The Bridges To Life curriculum includes victim-impact panels and small-group discussions. Most of our time is spent in the small groups. A typical small group includes ten inmates and two volunteer facilitators. No preaching or lecturing is allowed in the small groups. The primary function of the facilitators is to ask key questions and to promote real listening to the answers given. It is truly a “listening project” that provides each group member a “safe place” to express his or her most personal thoughts, feelings and concerns.
Elements of the small groups include prayer, tough questions, self-disclosure, and honest letters written by the inmates to their victims and to the inmates’ family members, who have also been victimized. Although these letters are not actually delivered to the actual crime victims, the act of writing to their victim and their family member has proven to be a powerful part of the curriculum. The inmates must admit their crime, tell their story of criminal activity and accept responsibility for their actions.
The curriculum used the Restoring Peace book and a Study Guide with 14 weekly meetings and homework lessons. The weekly topics are:
Week One: Orientation
Week Two: Getting Started
Week Three: Crime and Conflict
Week Four: Faith
Week Five: Stories
Week Six: Responsibility
Week Seven: Accountability
Week Eight: Confession
Week Nine: Repentance
Week Ten: Forgiveness
Week Eleven: Reconciliation
Week Twelve: Restitution
Week Thirteen: The Journey
Week Fourteen: Graduation
Restoring Peace – Using Lessons From Prison to Mend Broken Relationships details the principles used in the Bridges To Life program, combined with actual stories from victim and inmate participants. The book is intended for repairing or improving relationships with others.
“The best part about this program is the small group setting which allows both victim and inmate to be open and honest with one another and the trust, confidence that is built through these groups.”