PARCHMAN, Miss. — A new film, Faith and Flourishing: Parchman Farm, offers a powerful glimpse into the cultural shift occurring at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, two years into a dedicated research study.
The documentary, which premiered recently in Washington, D.C., highlights the crucial role of a voluntary prison seminary program in driving transformation and promoting prosocial behavior among inmates.
The ongoing research, led by Pepperdine University President Jim Gash and Baylor University’s Dr. Byron Johnson, examines the effectiveness of moral rehabilitation. Dr. Johnson emphasizes that the change is communal: “Flourishing isn’t about ‘I’m doing better’ – flourishing is ‘how is my neighbor doing.'”
The positive impact is already clear to those who know the facility. Statewide Public Defender Andre’ de Gruy, a veteran visitor since the late 80s, declared the prison is now “a transformed place.”
Inmate testimonies confirm this change. Will Westmoreland, recently paroled, credited his time at Parchman with making him “a better, more honest man… a man who will be productive.”
The project follows the successful correctional reform efforts of Commissioner Burl Cain, previously studied at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. For the inmates, the change starts within. As life-sentence inmate Charles Dunn said, “We are finally able to sense pride in the things we do, to know that we are valued.”
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
