Vice President

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Prison Fellowship Vice President Pat Nolan

After 15 years as an upstanding member of the state legislature, California Assemblyman Pat Nolan was indicted for corruption—charges he consistently denied during a six-year FBI investigation. Weighing the tarnishing of his reputation against a possible decades-long absence from his family, he made the difficult decision to plead guilty to one count, resulting in a 33-month prison sentence.

That sacrificial choice set in motion a whole new mission and career path for Pat.

As a California assemblyman, Pat had proved to be a tough law-and-order advocate. His sympathies lay with crime victims, and he pushed hard for the Victims' Bill of Rights. He was also awarded the Victims Advocate Award by Parents of Murdered Children.

But after serving 29 months in federal custody, Pat’s eyes were opened to the plight of the prisoners he had so often ignored. He experienced firsthand the indignities of being treated like warehoused property; the frustrating restrictions that made contact with family difficult, increasing their isolation and alienation rather than fostering unity and mutual support.

Says Pat, "I looked around and thought, despite what these men have done, they are someone's husband, father, son, or brother. They are human beings created in God's image with His love."

During his imprisonment, Pat was distraught that he would not be able to provide Christmas gifts for his three young children—worried especially that they would feel unloved and forgotten. Angel Tree®, a ministry to prisoner’s families, was able to provide gifts to his children on his behalf. This blessed first encounter with Prison Fellowship^® paved the way for Pat’s future work with the organization.

When Pat got out of prison, his political experience—now coupled with a new understanding of prison life and the needs of prisoners and their families—made him the right person to assume leadership of Justice Fellowship, the arm of Prison Fellowship dedicated to criminal justice reform. Justice Fellowship advocates for reforms based on the principles of restorative justice found in the Bible.  Pat's commitment to victims' rights is now joined by a zealous advocacy for reforms related to prisoners, which will, in turn, help restore greater peace to our society.

Pat has been instrumental in building both legislative and grassroots support to win passage of key federal legislation—including the Second Chance Act, focuses our prisons on preparing prisoners for the difficult transition back to their communities; and the U.S. Prison Rape Elimination Act, which seeks to end the horrific sexual assault of prisoners by both corrections officers and other inmates.  Pat has testified on numerous occasions before congressional committees on criminal-justice-related issues, and has lectured at judicial conferences and legal conventions.

Pat is the author of When Prisoners Return, which describes practical ways the Church can help prisoners and their families get back on their feet after they are released. His opinion pieces have appeared in numerous periodicals including the Los Angeles Times, the National Law Journal, and the Washington Times. He has coauthored articles for the Notre Dame Law School Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy and the Regent Law School Law Review. He is a frequent guest on talk shows, including Hannity and Colmes, Fox Network News, Michael Reagan, Montel Williams, and Ollie North.

Pat earned both his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and his Juris Doctorate at the University of Southern California.  He resides in Leesburg, Virginia with his wife, Gail, their three children: Courtney, Katie, and Jamie.