Father Chris Reuter, OFM, coordinator of prison ministry in the Diocese of Belleville, discusses the state of corrections.

Lewis University is hosting its Fall 2009 Teach-In “Go Directly to Jail” from Oct. 26-28 in the Sancta Alberta Chapel at Lewis University in Romeoville to explore questions from marginalized perspectives regarding the role of the prison system in the United States. Father Chris Reuter, OFM, Coordinator of Prison Ministry in the Diocese of Belleville, led the first event Oct. 26 with an overview of the prison industry and encouraged activism in changing the correctional system.

In addition to discussing the term “prison-industrial complex,” Father Reuter used facts, figures and reasoned judgments in order to provide the audience with insight on the system. The former principal and pastor of a Catholic parish has been coordinator of prison ministry for seven years.

Father Reuter explained the prison-industrial complex as a combination of prisons, industry and the media. He added, “The media cares about ratings, and crime sells.” He spent some time discussing how the media influences the decision makers of prison systems through propelling a desire to be “tough on crime.”

Prisons are not the only solution to crime, pointed out Father Reuter. He said, “Prisons do not diminish crime rate, detention causes recidivism, prisons encourage gangs of delinquents, prisons throw inmates’ families into destitution and crime is a function of poverty.” Father Reuter asserted that three wars—on drugs, crime and terror—have been responsible for tremendously increasing the prison population in the last 30 years. As a result of the swelled population, there have been enhanced police powers, different sentencing, prison expansion, parole denial and privatization of prisons.

He said prisoners are suffering as a result of the stressed system. He described the world of corrections, “There is an entirely different culture that is secret, harsh, dehumanizing and dysfunctional.”

The Teach-In events continued with Jean Maclean Snyder, who is involved with Tamms Year Ten. She discussed reforming prisons. Following her discussion was the film, “Prison Town U.S.A.” The Peace Education Committee is presenting the Teach-In. For additional information, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Hoppe, associate professor of philosophy, at (815) 836-5312 or Dr. James Burke, assistant professor of theology and director of the Center for Ministry and Spirituality, at (815) 836-5786.

A Catholic university sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis offers nearly 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, accelerated degree completion options for working adults, various aviation programs and 22 graduate programs in nine fields. The 10th largest private, not-for-profit university in Illinois is being honored for the sixth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report.