Horizon Communities in Prison

The Horizon Communities in Prison program, formerly known as Kairos Horizon, is a yearlong multifaith-based program that promotes personal responsibility, family responsibility, and employability among prisoners. Horizon Communities in Prison is an outgrowth of Kairos Prison Ministry, established in 1976, which is active in 250 maximum and medium security prisons in the United States and abroad. The purpose of the Horizon Communities in Prison program is to build links between the faith community and correctional institutions in order to affect an inner transformation of inmates and prepare them to live with others in mutual support, trust and respect. To encourage family responsibility, all participants write at least one letter a week to their children or family members. Horizon also offers a volunteer-led program on parenting, anger management, and conflict resolution.

The purpose of the Horizon Communities in Prison program is to build links between the faith community and correctional institutions in order to affect an inner transformation of inmates and prepare them to live with others in mutual support, trust and respect.

By December of 2004, more than 800 men in five states will have completed the program. 60 percent of prisoners participating in the program during the last two years reported experiencing restored family relationships where they had previously been estranged, some for over 25 years. In the states where the program is active, Horizon has negotiated contracts with state departments of corrections and aims to work collaboratively with prison administration. In some cases, these contracts involve the awarding of funds to cover the cost of program personnel. All other costs are funded through private donations.