FCSO: Joy Beyond Walls Reunites SMART Inmates with their Children for Christmas
Summary
BUNNELL, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and Parkview Church partnered to reunite inmates with their children during the holiday season in a new program called “Joy Beyond Walls: A Christmas Connection with FCSO and Parkview Church.” Inmates who are part of the jail’s Successful Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Treatment (SMART) program who had children under 15 years of age were invited to participate in the event. During the event, which was held at Parkview Church on December 9 under the watchful eyes of detention deputies, the inmates and their children were temporarily reunited to eat lunch, enjoy cookies and hot chocolate, and craft an ornament to memorialize what will hopefully be their last Christmas apart. In addition, Parkview Church members provided wrapped gifts to the children, which they opened alongside their fathers. “Inmates are being held accountable, but their children shouldn’t be punished for mistakes of their father. A very special thank you to Parkview Church for helping us put this program together and providing gifts to the children.