ABOUT LION LIFE

Where did Lion Life get it’s start?

If you would have told me that I would one day start a non-profit organization with my wife that offered educational services inside of county jails in an effort to reduce recidivism, I would have said you were crazy. A desperate battle with addiction and several run-ins with law enforcement meant the county jail was the last place on earth I wanted to be. I had tried nearly everything possible to get my life on track and I just couldn’t do it. How could I ever hope to help others break a vicious cycle that I couldn’t break myself?  

But that’s exactly what ended up happening. 

After a radical encounter with Jesus Christ, my life transformed completely. Soon after by Providence, I contracted to work as a G.E.D. instructor at a county jail while praying about my future career. I soon came to see the immense need for robust programming at the county jail level that would allow men and women to break free from the cycle of reoffending and have access to the freedom that I had found. My wife and I founded Lion Life Community with a deep passion to see lives changed by education, Truth, and purpose. For over a decade now, the only law enforcement I have run-ins with are the deputies that I and my team work alongside while administering our programming. 

More about our Mission here!

Why does educational programming matter in a County Jail?

The staggering reality is that 95 percent of the individuals who are currently in a county jail will return to the community in which they were arrested within 6-12 months. Study upon study demonstrates that those who participate in educational programming have a significantly lower chance of reoffending. This means less crime in our community and a better, purpose-filled life for the inmate who is our neighbor. While county jails fulfill the punitive role of the justice system, they also become a hub where some of the most broken members of our community spend time. Helping them receive the tools necessary to break out of the cycle of reoffending results in redeeming time served.

Other studies show that for every dollar invested in educating an incarcerated individual yields a 120 percent return on investment. Inmates who participate in programs like those offered by Lion Life Community have a 13 percent greater chance of obtaining gainful employment. This means those individuals now contribute to our community in a positive way rather than harming it or themselves. Every life matters. When these individuals become productive members of society, our entire community benefits in countless ways.

Does Lion Life respect law enforcement?

Absolutely! Formed as a collaborative and constructive community, Lion Life aims to be the bridge between the criminal justice system, the incarcerated population, and our broader community. Working in partnership with law enforcement is the only way we are able to meet the needs of the incarcerated population and by extension work together to make our community a safer place for everyone. Justice and restoration do not have to be mutually exclusive. Lion Life has over 12 years of experience working within the county corrections environment and holds deep respect for the work of law enforcement. In order to comply with best practices, we take our work seriously and screen volunteers and interns. We attend federally required safety trainings such as PREA and carry our own insurance policy to alleviate risk across the board. We also work alongside law enforcement with our programs by reducing contraband risk on the inside through the way we run the in-jail library. Our many years of experience working with Jail-ATM systems helps us to best serve our students and alleviate stress on the deputies that help us administer classes safely and effectively. Our county jails, and the deputies that work in them, provide a needed and incredibly valuable role in protecting our communities and also protecting the incarcerated. 

What does a literacy initiative look like inside a County Jail?

Literacy initiatives matter inside correctional facilities because they keep minds engaged in positive activity and thought throughout their stay. Sadly, over 70% of the incarcerated population cannot read above a fourth grade level. We have found that having access to a diverse library, creative writing classes, and our G.E.D. program increases literacy skills across the board. Specifically, those who access the library regularly show significant growth in reading and math skills, greatly improving their chances of obtaining their official G.E.D. and gainful employment. 

We have developed a unique checkout system that integrates with Jail-ATM in order to handle a high volume of specific book requests and work within budget to build a suitable library for the incarcerated population within the facility. Our developed delivery and return system brings no added burden to on-site staff. Ultimately, the library works synergistically with all other educational programs to yield greater results for all.

How does Lion Life connect with the community-at-large?

We want to be a part of instilling a pro-restoration mentality in our community. That is to say, a mindset that sees inmates as humans with the potential to be made whole again, rather than individuals who have gone awry and must forever be approached with caution. By building pipelines from jails that funnel individuals into supportive networks such as local resources, second chance hiring initiatives, nonprofit organizations, and supportive churches, we help to create a healthy path forward. Through our in-jail programming, we connect willing volunteers with our students in a safe environment to receive real help at the time that they need it most. This will increase the men and women’s chances of reintegrating successfully into our neighborhood. Volunteer with us!

How is Lion Life funded?

As a non-profit organization, Lion Life operates primarily from the charitable contributions of those who believe in our mission and desire for their investment to make a tangible difference in someone’s life. Without the support of you, our community, we could not help the people we help. Please consider making a one-time or monthly gift to help us bring educational services to those that would otherwise not have access to them.

What services does Lion Life offer?

We currently offer 8 different educational programs that include General Education Diploma (G.E.D.) Certification, English as a Second Language Course, Continuing Education Preparation, Entrepreneurship, Freedom from Addiction, Music, Creative Writing, and Literacy Initiatives. We aim to equip, inspire, and encourage every student who engages in our courses, giving them a chance for a better future.

What next?

My story of breaking out of the cycle includes all of the above. I had an encounter with a person that cast an entirely new vision for my life. They promised to walk alongside me and equip me to chase down this new dream. I was incredibly fortunate to be able to obtain an education and other skills that eventually lead me to apply for gainful employment. Those employers took chances on me, and that encouragement meant more than they will ever know. I can’t stress how important that is to the equation. More than one person decided to look past my criminal record and give me a job. They chose to believe that a person really could become a new creation.

The first step to seeing the tides turn in the fight against recidivism is instilling a sense of Hope in those currently caught in the vicious cycle. Then they must be equipped with the right skills and tools to ensure a personal victory. Ultimately, Society must undergo a paradigm shift in how it views those who have lived an incarcerated story. If we all linked arms and rallied around the individuals trying to exit the system, we would see more progress than we ever dreamed possible.