Prison Partnership myths and truths

Truth: Habitat for Humanity works because people from all walks of life give freely of their time and talents to help low-income people. Volunteers are the cornerstone of Habitat for Humanity, and no volunteer’s participation can be mandated by the government, an employer or Habitat. This applies to both “free world” and offender crews. Offenders frequently express that they enjoy the opportunity to contribute to the community, and this process has proven to be rehabilitative.

Myth: Habitat gives people who break the law a free education while many law-abiding citizens can’t even afford to pay for their own children’s college education.
Truth: Offenders gain job-related skills working on Habitat projects. The agency that has custody of offenders is responsible for the cost of “education.” In many states, the legislature mandates education for offenders so that they will be prepared to re-enter society and contribute to it in a productive manner.

Myth: In some states, inmate labor is on an assigned basis, and inmates will be punished for choosing not to work with Habitat.
Truth: Many correctional systems provide educational and work programs, whether or not a Habitat for Humanity partnership exists. Where a correctional facility partners with Habitat for Humanity, an offender can decline to volunteer with Habitat and still complete his or her assignments by working on alternative projects.

Myth: By allowing prisoners to decide whether they want to volunteer with Habitat, Habitat coddles instead of punishes them.
Truth: Meting punishment is the duty of the sentencing court, not of Habitat for Humanity.

Myth: Prison guards carry guns when inmates work on Habitat houses.
Truth: Some correctional policies require that correctional officers be armed when supervising offenders.

Myth: By using inmate labor, Habitat is taking jobs away from the private sector.
Truth: It is not the practice of Habitat or corrections to displace any worker.

Myth: Habitat profits from prison labor.
Truth: By far, most labor on Habitat projects is performed by community volunteers. The people who benefit from this partnership are the Habitat homeowners, the community in which Habitat builds, the correctional system that engages offenders in meaningful activities and the offender who has an opportunity to participate in positive experiences.