Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship and longtime advocate of penal system reform, was honored on July 18 with the Mann Medal in Ethics and Leadership, Samford University's recognition of leaders who have made significant contributions to a more just and ethical society. The presentation was made during a special luncheon at the Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham.
Mr. Colson was special counsel to President Richard Nixon for four years before serving seven months in federal prison on Watergate-related obstruction of justice charges. His incarceration at Alabama's Maxwell Prison changed his life and inspired him to found Prison Fellowship, a ministry that now includes services for convicts, victims of crime, and justice officers. His work on behalf of prisoners has now expanded to 200 countries. He is the author of several books, including How Now Shall We Live? and a daily radio feature, BreakPoint, which airs on 1,000 stations.
Video of the Mann Medal presentation and Mr. Colson's remarks is available below.