AUSTIN, TTEXAS (AP) -- AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas officials say they plan to open a non-denominational seminary at the maximum-security Darrington Unit south of Houston.
The program will train inmates serving long sentences to be ministers. Those who graduate from the four-year program will be able to minister to inmates at other prisons.
State Sen. John Whitmire tells the Austin American-Statesman a similar program in Louisiana helped transform a violent prison there into one where there's not even cursing.
The Darrington prison has had problems with violence and contraband, but Whitmire says that's why he thinks it's a good place to put the seminary - because the program can bring change.
Texas has religious programs at all of its 112 prisons, but this will be its first seminary.
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Information from: Austin American-Statesman
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