Community & Justice
Our Prison Ministry
Rooted in the Jewish values of tikkun olam — repairing the world — the JALC Prison Ministry walks alongside incarcerated individuals on their journey toward restoration, dignity, and a meaningful life beyond bars.
Our Mission
Restoring Dignity. Rebuilding Lives.
The JALC- Nelson Mandela Prison Ministry is dedicated to helping incarcerated individuals successfully re-enter civilian life. We believe that every person — regardless of their past — deserves the opportunity to rebuild, contribute, and thrive. Through partnerships with leading advocacy organizations, we provide comprehensive re-entry support, employment assistance, legal advocacy, and spiritual care.
Our work is grounded in the principle that justice does not end at sentencing — it continues in how we welcome people back into our communities and equip them for a future of purpose and possibility.
International Standards
The Nelson Mandela Rules
Officially known as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners
The Jewish American Labor Council advocates for the humane treatment of all persons incarcerated in the jails and prisons of the United States through the implementation of The Nelson Mandela Rules — the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. Named in honor of Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison during his struggle against apartheid, these rules establish the globally recognized baseline standards for the dignified and humane treatment of prisoners.
The Rules address conditions of confinement, healthcare, disciplinary measures, contact with the outside world, and the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment — standards that the JALC believes must be upheld in every American correctional facility.
View the Nelson Mandela Rules (PDF)U.S. Courts & the Nelson Mandela Rules
Many United States courts have referenced or applied the Nelson Mandela Rules when interpreting the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). The following cases illustrate the growing judicial recognition of these international standards in American correctional law:
N.D. Ohio, 2018
Wainwright v. Medical Dept., Cuyahoga County Correction Center
The court analyzed the Mandela Rules alongside prison policies, applying the international standards as a framework for evaluating the adequacy of medical care and conditions of confinement under the Eighth Amendment.
D. Ariz., 2019
Bells v. Von Blanckensee
The petitioner invoked the Nelson Mandela Rules in challenging conditions of confinement, demonstrating the Rules' growing use as an authoritative reference in federal prisoner rights litigation under CRIPA and the Eighth Amendment.
How We Serve
Four Pillars of Prison Ministry
Employment Assistance
Connecting returning citizens with job training, placement services, and employer partnerships that provide meaningful, sustainable employment opportunities.
Re-entry Support
Guiding individuals through the complex process of reintegrating into civilian life — from housing and identification to social services and community connection.
Legal Advocacy
Providing legal resources and representation to ensure the rights of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals are protected throughout the justice process.
Spiritual Care
Offering pastoral support, counseling, and faith-based community to nurture the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — on the journey toward restoration.
Our Partners
Organizations We Work With
The JALC Prison Ministry collaborates with trusted organizations that share our commitment to justice, restoration, and human dignity.
The Methodist Law Centre
Led by Rev. Roderick Andrew Lee Ford, JD, LL.D.
The Methodist Law Centre provides legal advocacy and support services for incarcerated individuals, working to ensure fair treatment under the law and a dignified path toward reintegration into society.
Equal Justice Initiative
Led by Attorney Bryan Stevenson, Montgomery, Alabama
The Equal Justice Initiative is a nonprofit organization committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, challenging racial and economic injustice, and protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
The Ordinary Peoples Society (TOPS)
Led by Pastor Kenneth Sharpton Glasgow, Dothan, Alabama
TOPS works directly with formerly incarcerated individuals to provide re-entry support, community reintegration services, and advocacy for criminal justice reform at the local, state, and national levels.
Abe Brown Ministries
Tampa, Florida
Abe Brown Ministries has served the Tampa Bay community for decades, offering prison ministry, re-entry programs, job training, and transitional housing to help formerly incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.
Society First
Boynton Beach, Florida
Society First is a non-profit organization dedicated to prison and criminal sentencing reform within the State of Florida and across the United States. Through advocacy, education, and community engagement, Society First works to create a more just and equitable criminal justice system.
Prisoner Connections
Led by Mr. Ron Baker, Orlando, Florida
Prisoner Connections provides paralegal services in conjunction with The Methodist Law Centre and various Florida attorneys handling post-conviction relief cases, helping incarcerated individuals navigate the legal system and pursue justice after sentencing.
"Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."
— Hebrews 13:3
Get Involved
Support the JALC-Mandela Prison Ministry
Whether through volunteering, donating, or partnering with us, your support helps returning citizens find employment, stability, and community. Join us in the work of restoration.