:: MPRI Program

Some Sobering Statistics:
- Without intervention, 70% of children with an incarcerated parent may end up in prison.
- Cost to incarcerate 1 prisoner annually: $35,000
- 2007 MI Dept. of Corrections budget: 2.1 billion, more than 25% of Michigan's budget.
- 12,000 prisoners are paroled annually – Over half return to prison within 2 years
- Parole failures cost to Michigan: $117 million per year

What Is MPRI?
The primary goal of the Michigan Prisoner ReEntry Initiative is to increase public safety by reducing crime.  The vision is that every inmate released from prison will have the tools needed to succeed in the community.  Operation Transformation has been asked to assist with the successful transition of prisoners back into the community by developing a team of trained mentors.

What Can You Do?
You can become a mentor and be used by God to make a difference in the life of a parolee.

What Does A Mentor Do?
Mentoring is a relationship with a goal.  The mentor helps the mentee reach his/her potential by being a role model and providing wise counsel. A mentor loves, accepts, and encourages the mentee.

Paul and Onesimus: An Example Of Mentoring
In his letter to Philemon, Paul makes an appeal for a man who had been Philemon's slave but had runaway and maybe had stolen from him.  Paul writes, “I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and me.”  Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon trusting that he will be ready to forgive.  Church tradition suggests that Onesimus was received back by Philemon in love and that he would one day become the bishop of the church in Ephesus.  It is possible that he even had a hand in the formation of the New Testament. The life of a runaway slave and thief was turned upside down by the transforming power of the gospel and a mentor who encouraged him and stood with him.

Will You Become A Mentor?
We are in need of both male and female mentors.  If you are interested in becoming involved in this vital ministry, we would invite you to contact us at Operation Transformation.

Mentoring Opportunities:

Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative (state level with felony offenders)
This program is administered by the state of Michigan Corrections Department through counties.  Operation Transformation is the Macomb County and Thumb Region provider for faith-based mentors for parolees who desire a mentor.  The inmates go through a voluntary 3 week class on why it is advantageous to have a mentor (while still incarcerated).  They then choose to have a mentor (or not) after they are released.  Mentors go through an initial 2-hour training (same as above).  The parolee and mentor are connected by the OT Mentor Director.  The mentor then stays in contact and encourages the parolee to follow through with his appointments and endeavors to get him involved in a church or faith-based support group.  The time commitment is 1 or more contacts a week for approximately 3 months.  (These people are also followed up with by a parole officer, OT Mentor Director and MPRI Transition Team.)  Applications are available today.

Volunteers in Probation (VIP) Mentoring (county level with misdemeanor offenders)
This program is administered through the 72nd District Court for St. Clair County and is part of the probation sentence for selected people, who are put on probation for misdemeanor offenses.  The time commitment for the mentor is 1 hour per week for the duration of probation (6-12 months average).  A 2-hour mentor training is given (2nd Thursday each month from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at OT) with monthly support meetings also on the 2nd Thursday evening of the month at 6:00 p.m. at OT.  Other training times are available; call for times.  Open to men and women; applications available today.

*Next Mentor Training (for either mentoring program above):  The second Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at OT, 1904 Poplar St. in Port Huron.  Monthly Mentor Trainings are also held in Macomb County; location, day and time varies.  Call for current information.  This training is taught by Terry Kuhns, OT Mentor Director.  Feel free to attend and/or get more information – no obligation.  Call Operation Transformation at 810-966-8660.

Mentoring Application:

Download an Application:
MentorApplicationForm.pdf