BDAI: Before, During, and After Incarceration

An advocacy group for those incarcerated, previously incarcerated, and their families. A dynamic voice for restorative justice and legal system reforms

During his 37-year commitment as a jail counselor and minister from St. Francis Catholic Church, deacon Tom Bousamra gained first-hand knowledge of the hardships of the lives of inmates.  Through his work, Tom has seen the suffering, loneliness, alienation, and deep despair brought about by incarceration, which is often magnified by the complications caused by substance abuse and mental health issues. A recent survey from Wayne State University showed that 38 percent of those incarcerated suffered from mental illness and clinical addictions.

Tom’s compassion for those incarcerated, their families and loved ones, led him to help launch the 501c(3) non-profit organization, Before, During, and After Incarceration, or B.D.A.I.

Since 2016, B.D.A.I. has worked to promote restorative justice, and to help those incarcerated and their families feel supported, deal with stress, grief, emotional health, re-establish employment, housing, reduce the social stigma related to incarceration.   Tom and his fellow B.D.A.I. volunteers have worked to humanize the faces of those incarcerated, and to advocate a jail culture that moves from punishment to recovery.

B.D.A.I. collaborates with many area agencies and non-profits to provide crisis help, housing, transportation, mental health and substance abuse recovery, health care, veteran’s assistance, food, and clothing.  Support and fellowship dinners for families and supporters are held the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Central United Methodist Church will be the host facility for these dinners beginning January 9, 2024.

How can you help?

B.D.A.I. is a fully volunteer organization. Help is needed for these initiatives:

• Monthly Family Support Dinners, including food preparation, welcoming guests, set up and clean up,
• To assist with fundraising and grant writing projects,
• To provide pen pal (communication) support, art supplies, and jigsaw puzzles,
• For inmate coaching programs and to help find community resources that can help provide reintegration for those recently released from jail,
• For B.D.A.I’s financial support, which can be made through Central’s Missions giving .

Thank you for your interest and support of B.D.A.I.

Your financial contributions through Central’s Mission Ministry Team help find community resources that can support reintegration for those recently released from jail,.  Click to DONATE NOW.