One local nonprofit organization is working to help those who are in jail, give help as they are released and help them to stay out of jail.

The James 2 Ministry was formed about 6 months ago by locals who came together with the focus on reaching out to inmates and getting them the help they need.

The ministry's goal is the build a halfway house, but the cost is somewhere around $250,000. They're hoping that the inmates who just get out of jail can use this house to get back on their feet and eventually get back into the workforce.

Prison Minister Tapas Sarma said he would like to build multiple halfway houses across Central Louisiana.

The group, made up of ministers and volunteers, said it's all about giving inmates a second chance at life.

"When a person is released from prison and he has nowhere to go but back into the same toxic environment that put him there in the first place, there has to be an intervention or else he will come right straight back," said Retired Volunteer Harry Debusk.

Sarma said it's all about connecting inmates with the right resources so they don't end up back in the prison system.

"We all need a little hug, we all need a little love and you have to be there always for them when they need you because these are men who have been institutionalized for a number of years and they forgot what is it being like to be a person."

You can check out their

for more information or call

(318) 542-1516

.

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