At a time when Americans are demanding safer streets and greater accountability, three conservative-led states are demonstrating that one of the most effective public-safety strategies isn’t bigger government—it’s stronger communities, restored families, and the transformative power of faith.
This week, Right On Crime and the Texas Public Policy Foundation hosted “Faith and the Criminal Justice System,” a conversation that showcased what many conservatives have long understood: government can punish wrongdoing, but it cannot change a heart. That work happens through moral and personal responsibility, as well as faith-based programs that redirect lives and reduce crime far more effectively than bureaucracy ever could.
The event opened with a reflection on the biblical story of Jesus healing a woman who had suffered for years, restoring not only her health but her dignity and her place in her community. Prison Fellowship’s Cody Wilde, Senior Vice President of Correctional Programs, connected this to his organization’s work inside prisons—helping men and women rediscover hope, purpose, and moral grounding. For conservatives, this aligns with a core belief: individuals can change, and when they do, society becomes safer.
The discussion was guided by Dr. Richard Johnson, Director of the Brooklyn Washington Initiative with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, who reminded attendees of the true purpose of the justice system.
Johnson said, “Corrections means correct the behavior, but if you’re not doing anything to correct the behavior, then you allow the behavior to perpetuate.’”
Conservatives understand this intuitively. Punishment without transformation simply guarantees repeat crime and more victims. And in conservative states across the South, transformation is happening.
In Mississippi, Commissioner of Corrections Burl Cain has long been a national leader in faith-based rehabilitation. The Angola Prison Seminary—launched with private donations rather than taxpayer dollars—has now expanded to 26 states. With more than 500 theology graduates and a recidivism rate under 3 percent, the results are unmistakable.
“Corrections means correct deviant behavior… So the only real way you can truly make a difference is you have to change it morally,” said Cain.
Cain said Mississippi taxpayers benefit too: 368 incarcerated vocational instructors now save the state $14 million annually.
Louisiana is seeing similar results. Renee DeLouche, Assistant Secretary of Public Safety and Corrections State of Louisiana, described a system where incarcerated peer ministers, tutors, and mentors now teach skills, vocational trades, and high school equivalency courses—at a fraction of the cost of traditional programming.
DeLouche said, “They’re teaching what they have learned, and they’re paying it forward, so inmates aren’t sitting there just idly.” She says this peer-led model reduces violence, strengthens discipline, and creates a culture of responsibility.
Texas continues to raise the bar. Jason Clark, Chief Programs Officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, highlighted the power of volunteerism—a foundational conservative value.
“Faith is one of those key ingredients… We have more than 26,000 faith-based volunteers, and that’s a force multiplier for us,” said Clark.
Clark said volunteers help keep recidivism low—just under 17 percent statewide—with faith-program graduates returning at less than 6 percent.
These three states share a conservative philosophy: strong families, strong communities, and strong moral foundations produce strong public safety. Faith-based programs cost less, work better, and create fewer victims. They reduce gang violence, improve prison culture, and give offenders a chance to become productive citizens rather than long-term burdens on taxpayers.
As Right On Crime’s Texas State Director and Chief of Staff, Nikki Pressley emphasized, public safety is government’s first responsibility. But conservatives know something more: lasting transformation begins with faith and hope.
This event closed with a forward-looking commitment—Johnson pledged to create an Annual Texas–Louisiana–Mississippi Faith Alliance Symposium next year. It’s a fitting step for states that are proving values-driven changes can produce real-world results.
In an era of polarized debate, these conservative states offer a blueprint rooted in accountability, redemption, and fiscal responsibility. The evidence is clear: when we strengthen character, restore dignity, and support real transformation, we build safer communities for everyone.