Indiana prison's new unit helps inmates explore spirituality

A state prison outside of Indianapolis has created a special faith-based unit aimed at helping inmates develop their spirituality.
    
The Anderson Herald Bulletin reports that the unit was established at the Pendleton Correctional Industrial Facility in August under the direction of Superintendent Wendy Knight. The unit is similar to the facility's eight other units, but it features murals depicting various religions from Catholicism to Islam.
    
Knight notes that no particular religion is considered more important than others in the faith-based unit.
    
Chaplain Dave Smith says the unit helps offenders learn how to live and work together. He says it also allows inmates the opportunity to practice better friend-selection skills.
    
About 125 of the prison's roughly 1,450 inmates have moved into the faith-based unit.

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