Possible Prison Group Issues

Possible Prison Group Issues in CRI

Codependency, Alcohol Abuse, Drug Abuse, Freedom from Anger, Sexual Addiction and Exiting a Lifestyle of Risk are among the “biggies” in prison. If you are considering a women’s prison, there are additional issues of sexual, physical and psychological abuse from the men in their lives.

Many of these groups are well-known to CR groups, but I will elaborate on one that probably is not:

Exiting a Lifestyle of Risk

God created us to desire to live safely and securely in our surroundings. When circumstances, either of our making or thrust upon us by others, interrupt this innate desire, we may develop a lifestyle that feeds on an adrenalin rush from negative, risky behavior which is outside the normal limits of God’s design for us. This may be caused by such things as abusive relationships with parents or others, or we have developed a feeling of inadequacy which brings about thinking patterns that lead us into situations that may be dangerous to ourselves or others.

Risk is not, in and of itself, a negative thing but when it becomes an addiction that leads to the possibility of danger or injury to others or ourselves for no other reason than to satisfy our sensation of thrill, it is not the will of God for our lives and will lead us toward a lifestyle that is harmful. The enemy can use these abuses to keep us from God, can destroy our relationships with others.

This addiction can be broken by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ as we recognize and accept responsibility for our actions and behaviors. It may take time to break the patterns that are destructive, but with the willingness to let our Higher Power, Jesus Christ, change our lives, we will experience real freedom from negative risky behaviors and learn to channel our desires into positive acts of service that benefit those around us. In following Christ we may risk our reputations, our livelihood and even our lives as we give ourselves to Him to be used in service.

Examples of negative risk taking:

Committing crimes such as robberies, burglaries, assaults, or other activities for the “thrill” of doing them.
Risking all of one’s income on gambling.
Driving in a reckless manner on public streets and highways for the “fun” of it.
Joining gang activities and becoming involved in the lifestyle of drugs, alcohol abuse, and turf battles.
Promiscuous sexual behavior that degrades those of the same or opposite sex, spreads sexually transmitted diseases or causes pregnancies outside the bonds of marriage. All sexual activity outside the marriage covenant is risky and contrary to God's purposes for his children.