BTL is a 14-week restorative justice program with over 93,000 inmate graduates since it began in 1998.
The program both reduces crime by lowering the recidivism rate of its graduates, and helps heal crime victims who participate as volunteers. Bridges To Life (BTL) is a faith-based restorative justice program for incarcerated men and women that reduces recidivism among program graduates and helps make our communities safer. BTL accomplishes this mission by utilizing a unique 14-week curriculum cent
04/24/2026
How much do you know about BTL? Find out in this month's e-news!
How Much Do You Know About BTL? Email from Bridges to Life 2025 | April THE GIFT OF GIVING Greetings! It is a common belief that nonprofit organizations like Bridges To Life are funded primarily by grants or other sources.
Bridges To Life offers hope and healing to victims of crime by inviting them to share their stories in our program. April 19-25 is National Crime Victims Rights Week. Please join us in remembering and praying for all those whose lives have been affected by crime.
We love getting notes from BTL graduates letting us know they've been released and are doing well in their new lives, like this one: "Hello. I just wanted to say that I'm free, I've been clean for some time now, and I feel great. I speak very highly of Bridges To Life and am thankful I got the opportunity to learn from this program."
"I am a 10-year Volunteer for Bridges To Life. It's one of the reasons why I am at peace--seeing the grace that God has given to me and my loved ones, and to the inmates whom I have served."
Words like these are why BTL volunteers make us proud!
We don't often hear from family members of the inmates who take our program, but when the mother of a recent participant made a donation to BTL, she included this note: “Grateful that my son is benefiting from the BTL course he is currently taking at Luther Unit. May the Lord bless you and keep you!” It's not only crime that has a ripple effect--healing does, too.
02/27/2026
In this month's e-news, a father shares his story about why he volunteers for BTL: "My 47-year-old son has been locked up for the past 20 years and I have seen and felt firsthand the toll it takes on the whole family..." How has BTL helped? Read on to find out!
The Impact Is In! Email from Bridges to Life 2026 | February A COMEBACK YEAR Greetings! As you may read in our 2025 Annual Report*, last year was a comeback year for Bridges To Life! Volunteer participation rose
02/06/2026
BTL COO Jim Buffington has a powerful story as a crime victim that he shares in the Bridges To Life program. You can read all about it and get to know Jim in this recent interview with Voyage Dallas magazine:
Exploring Life & Business with Jim Buffington of Bridges To Life Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Buffington. Hi Jim, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.At the age of 12, my mother was found murdered in the back seat of her car. The devastation to our family was indescribable. A year later, while still working t...
01/30/2026
Every year, BTL's January e-news is devoted exclusively to our amazing volunteers. Now you can take a peak into their world!
Movin' On Up! Email from Bridges to Life 2026 | January Volunteer Edition A RECORD BREAKING YEAR! Greetings! Did you know it takes hundreds of volunteers to facilitate the Bridges To Life program in all of th
01/09/2026
Thank you to all of our BTL supporters for another successful year - we couldn't do what we do without you! Over 800 individuals volunteered for BTL in 2025, and 271 of those for the first time. Interested in making a difference in the lives of others? Check out our Volunteer page for more info - we'd love to welcome you aboard!
Volunteer | Bridges To Life The only qualifications necessary to become a volunteer for Bridges To Life are a willing heart, listening ear, and desire to help others! Volunteers need not be of a particular religious background or possess counseling-related credentials or experience. Volunteers may participate as a crime victi...
12/17/2025
Read a different kind of father-son Christmas story in this month's e-news - with gratitude and Happy Holidays from BTL!
Of Fathers, Sons, and Healing Email from Bridges to Life 2025 | December A FATHER & SON STORY Greetings! While the traditional Christmas story tells of a Father sending His Son into the world to express the miracles of love
12/02/2025
From giving thanks to Giving Tuesday, it's all about blessings - share yours!
Donate to Bridges to Life Help support Bridges to Life by donating or sharing with your friends.
12/01/2025
Find out what we'd have said if we had been at YOUR Thanksgiving table in our November e-news!
Thank You Email from Bridges to Life 2025 | November BE THANKFUL WITH US Greetings! At Thanksgiving dinners far and wide, it is a common practice to have guests go around the table and express what they a