March 6, 2015
For Immediate Release

By Josh Christian, student news writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Dr. Galen Carey, vice president of government relations for the National Association of Evangelicals, spoke on Criminal Justice Reform at the Kentucky Heartland Institute on Public Policy forum on Feb. 24 on the campus of Campbellsville University.

“Many of us know someone who is or has been in prison,” Carey said.

Carey highlighted the issues of the criminal justice system today. According to Carey, $20,000-$30,000 is spent on every prisoner behind bars. Further, the incarceration rate has increased 400% since the 1950's and 200 thousand children are left without parents every year.

“The system looks like it is giving up on people,” Carey said.

The criminal justice system focuses on the government and offender, argued Carey. Instead, Carey suggests the system focus on the victim and offender. He also emphasized the importance of offender restoration. Offender restoration is successfully restoring the offender back into society.

The National Association of Evangelicals focuses on bringing Christian morals and ethics into the political realm. The association also educates Christians on their political responsibility as citizens of America and believers in Christ.

Carey spoke of the rights of Christians to be engaged in the public policy process during CU's chapel service in the Ransdell Chapel on Feb. 25.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.