On Wednesday February 6th, Tim Hansel hosted a show about WISDOM, an umbrella group which includes nine fully-formed congregation-based community organizations. WISDOM has created the 11X15 Campaign to decrease the number of incarcerated people in Wisconsin and promote alternatives to incarceration. Tim spoke with David Liners, Executive Director of WISDOM, Jerome Dillard, a member of the Dane County chapter of the organization, and Reverend Jerry Hancock from the Prison Ministry Project.

According to WISDOM’s Website, “Human Impact Partners, in collaboration with WISDOM, conducted a year-long Health Impact Assessment from October 2011 – October 2012 of the predicted results of increasing funding for state Treatment Alternative Diversion (TAD) programs. These programs include drug and alcohol treatment courts, day reporting centers, mental health treatment courts and other initiatives, all based on the principle that public health issues, such as substance abuse and mental health problems, are at the root of many crimes.

The human impacts – prison terms avoided, families kept intact, lives given a second chance – are only part of the story. Alternatives to prison will make Wisconsin safer and also save Wisconsin money.”

Read more about WISDOM:

http://prayforjusticeinwi.org/about/

Read more about the Prison Ministry Project:

http://www.firstcongmadison.org/content/prison-ministry

Listen to the entire program: