Our History

Founded when Susan Andrews, the former General Presbyterian of the Hudson River Presbytery realized that there were more people in prison in her Presbytery than in the pews of her eighty-one churches, she tapped Dr. Hans Hallundbaek, a thought leader in the prison and poverty-reform spaces, and the Interfaith Prison Partnership was established with the hopes of creating a more fair, just and humane justice system.

In 2019, in collaboration with the Town of Bedford, then Superintendents Amy LaManna (Bedford Hills Correctional Facility) and Tanya Mitchell-Voyd (Taconic Correctional Facility), and Hour Children, the Interfaith Prison Partnership led the residents of the Town of Bedford in "adopting" its two correctional facilities. These are two of the only three women’s state prisons in New York. In adopting a Prison, IPP acts as a bridge between the State’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYS DOCCS) as well as other faith leaders, organizations, and communities to improve the lived experience of those who are incarcerated, formerly incarcerated and involved in the corrections system. The Adopt-a-Prison model is a success because of the positive, personal, and professional relationships that continue with the current Superintendents, NYS DOCCS, and the local faith communities.

In 2023, IPP began the process of becoming an official 501(c)(3) organization, after having been housed under various fiscal sponsors. With this development came the election of a Board of Directors to oversee the Staff and Advisory Council. The future is bright for IPP!