None

United Methodists have a rich history of involvement in prison ministry and criminal justice work. Yet today, precisely at a time when incarceration is reaching unprecedented levels in the United States, prison ministry in The United Methodist Church is fragmented and badly in need of a fresh vision. I Was In Prison seeks to address this need. Grounded in the concept of restorative justice, it suggests a holistic framework for United Methodist ministry with the incarcerated involving three interrelated communities: endorsed chaplains and others who serve primarily inside prisons, congregational and community-based leaders and ministries, and seminaries and theological schools. Contributors offer penetrating theological, sociological, historical, institutional, and practical insights that can help United Methodists engage prison ministry with integrity and hope.