Jail
house
religion
by Sara Hinds
People in jail need to know most that others still care.
'This is the missing element that we are trying to provide"
said JoAnne Kurisu.
Jerry Dunn, superintendent of the People's City Mission
and Kurisu of the Mental Health Association both operate
similar religious services on Sunday for men and women in the
Lancaster County Jail.
On year ago, through the efforts of Pat Wall of the Mental
Health Association and Dunn, money was raised and a new jail
chapel was built.
There are separate services for men and women. Kurisu
leads the women's service while Dunn, who has been in the
ministry for 17 years, organizes services for the men.
Every Sunday from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Kurisu and other
women volunteers read psalms, passages from Twenty-Four
Hours A Day, the Alcoholic's Anonymous meditative readings
and scripture from the Bible to women in jail.
The chapel service is attended most often by the first time
offender with some religious training, Kurisu noted.
Everyone gets into a semi-circle, introduces himself and
they discuss their problems. Kurisu also has three or more
women portray a "mini psych-drama", where they can each
act out situations involving themselves.
Playing cards, scrabble or even flower arranging is
sometimes scheduled into the Sunday program.
Kurisu and other volunteers also provide materials such as
robes and slippers. Similar to the help for men, assistance is
given in seeking employment after release and contacting
relatives.
Kurisu sees her role as a good listener, a vehicle to
communication and an outlet to spiritual guidance.
Kurisu commented: "Getting arrested and being put into
jail can be a very traumatic event. Women become frightened
and feel rejected. Their relatives are upset and discouraged.
What we try to do is work with the whole person. We know
they violated the law, but that is only part of their
personality." " ' . . t
Dunn, an alcoholic himself for 15 years who formerly
worked with the Douglas County Jail, volunteers his services
to men in jail with the hope of "stimulating a change of
thought"
Every Sunday an informal service is also offered to those
men who wish to attend. About 100 volunteer in the program
catering to about 25 to 30 men each Sunday.
Counseling and contacting the family is also provided on
the request of the person in ja il.
"The average person in jail feels jail is a set pattern. He
continues to be in and out and feels society and the police are
against him. I know, I was an alcoholic for 15 years. Then I
found God and the way out through Him. I try to tell men in
jail that by the power of God, they too, can set a new life
pattern," Dunn said.
Dunn went on to say that conditions in a jail were not
always very good. "But the situations are not the fault of the
jail staff or police department, they are doing the. very best
they can."
Both Kurisu and Dunn felt that the Sunday services were a
success and beneficial to those incarcerated in the Lancaster
County Jail.
Unicamera
probes bribe
A special legislative investigation
was ordered Thursday into the alleged
attempt to bribe Neligh Sen. John
DeCamp to change his vote on
overriding Gov. J J. Exon's veto of LB
1101. That bill woi ld have started a
scaled 90 per cent personal property
tax exemption for Nebraskans.
DeCamp reported he was given a
note Wednesday to telephone a certain
number. Checking Thursday revealed
the number was that of the Citizens
State Bank of Bancroft.
When placing the call, DeCamp had
Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers and
several other witnesses listen to the ,
conversation.
The other party, DeCamp said.
"immediately launched into what
some people would call a bribe ."
Chambers said, "I heard an offer of
$500 cash right now if he switched his
vote."
A second figure mentioned was
5,000 which Chambers said he first
thought referred to votes but later
believed was dollars.
DeCamp is a candidate on the May
primary ballot for Democratic
nomination to the U.S. Senate.
Although DeCamp was not sure
who the individual was who made the
telephone offer, he said he believed it
could have been the same person who
threatened him at an open meeting in
South Sioux City several weeks ago. '
Oakland Sen. CW. Hobnquist said
Thursday the South Sioux City
individual was Perry Meyer, vice
president of the Bancroft bank.
State senators passed a resoltuion
introduced by Sen. Jerome Warner of
Witch for
THER0OTOF
Waverly calling for a special
investigating committee of seven
members.
Warner cited state statutes
prohibiting any person from
"attempting by menace or other
corrupt means, to control or influence
a member (of the Legislature) in giving
his vote or to prevent his giving it."
It was further learned Thursday
that Perry Meyer has admitted
speaking with DeCamp. He has denied
offering any money to DeCamp if he
would vote to override Exon's veto.
Meyer, it was reported, is the
nephew of Nebraska Atty. Gen.
Clarence Meyer.
In other action in Thursday's
legislative session, a resolution was
introduced principally by Lincoln Sen.
Wally Barnett urging state colleges and
universities "provide all feasible special
facilities to assure access to
educational opportunities for the
physically handicapped."
(ft
n
doily
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THE DAILY NEBRASKAN
FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1972
