Prison Fellowship's Heather Rice-Minus on the church and criminal justice reform

Capitol Conversations

Jeff Pickering welcomes back Heather Rice-Minus of Prison Fellowship to talk about the church, criminal justice reform, and why Christians value second chances. This episode comes as we are engaged in Second Chance Month, a nationwide effort each April to raise awareness about barriers to reentry and unlock brighter futures for people with a criminal record.

This conversation was recorded on Friday, April 16, the week before the verdict was announced in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.

Guest Biography

Heather Rice-Minus serves as Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Church Mobilization at Prison Fellowship, the nation's largest Christian nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families. She is a powerful, knowledgeable voice articulating the case for restorative criminal justice solutions. She is also the co-author of Outrageous Justice, a Bible study curriculum and book. A native of Virginia, Rice-Minus resides in Washington, D.C., with her husband and daughter, and they welcomed a second child as foster parents in 2020.

Resources from the Conversation

• Learn more about Second Chance Month with Prison Fellowship
• Register for the Second Chance Month Gala on April 29
• Read Heather’s article What the Bible says about second chances
• Listen to the previous episode with Heather A Story of Criminal Justice Reform: How the First Step Act Became Law
• Learn more about the EQUAL Act
• Here are the articles Jeff recommended in the introduction
  • The George Floyd Trial and the Longing for Justice by Russell Moore
  • How I’m Talking to My Kids About the Derek Chauvin Verdict by Esau McCaulley at the New York Times
  • George Floyd and Me by Shai Linne at TGC
• Subscribe to ERLC’s Policy Newsletter