InnerChange Freedom Initiative Director Bios

Leaders in Faith-Based Prisoner Rehabilitation

Pat Nolan, Vice President of Prison Fellowship
Pat Nolan leads Justice Fellowship, the public policy program of Prison Fellowship. Justice Fellowship works to reform the criminal justice system based on the principles of restorative justice found in the Bible. Nolan served for 15 years in the California State Assembly, four of those as the Assembly Republican Leader. He was a leader on crime issues, particularly on behalf of victims' rights, and was one of the original sponsors of the Victims' Bill of Rights (Proposition 15). Awarded the "Victims Advocate Award" by Parents of Murdered Children, Nolan was also named Legislator of the Year by the Amvets for his work on behalf of Vietnam veterans. In 1988, Nolan was targeted for prosecution regarding a campaign contribution he accepted and the contribution was part of an FBI sting. Nolan pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and served 25 months in a federal prison and four months in a halfway house. Nolan is the author of When Prisoners Return, which describes the important role the church can play in helping prisoners lead healthy, productive lives after their release from prison.

Sam Dye, National Program Director of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative
Sam Dye is the national program director of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative. Prior to assuming this position, he was director of the former InnerChange Freedom Initiative unit in Iowa for four years. Dye's background also includes a 20-year stint in the healthcare field. He earned a bachelor's degree from Central Christian College in Missouri and a master's from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa.

John Byrne, Director of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative Minnesota
John Byrne is the director of the mens' and womens' units of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative program in Lino Lakes, Minn. and Shakopee, Minn., respectively. Prior to coming to Minnesota to help start the North Star State's initiative, he was part of the start-up team for the InnerChange Freedom Initiative Kansas that was established in January of 2000. Byrne is a graduate of Grand Canyon University and received his Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. He taught public school for 8 years and was active in prison ministry in Arizona for many years before moving to Kansas to work for the InnerChange Freedom Initiative. Byrne is currently completing his doctoral degree at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.

Tommie Dorsett, Director of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative Texas
Tommie Dorsett is the director of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative program in Sugar Land, Texas. During his 10 years as director, Dorsett has helped more than 1,000 inmates complete both the in-prison and post-release phases of the program. While leading the Texas program, Dorsett has developed the Houston Community Partnership Council, an inter-agency and inter-faith organization that brings together community leaders to discuss policies and issues relating to the re-entry of prisoners into area communities. Dorsett formerly served as a unit manager with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (Parole Division), where he managed the operations of various specialized caseloads. He is a graduate of Texas Southern University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.

-30-