It isn't too surprising that we find many varied viewpoints about the Bible and religion in the prisons. As I have mentioned in the past, one of the biggest challenges is trying to straighten out so many misunderstandings. Often, if the inmate has any kind of background or exposure to religion he will try to remember what he knew, or heard, in his earlier years. This is tangled up with what he has seen on television, heard on the radio, and received from other inmates who also take a twisted understanding and become vigorous proclaimers of error.
Predestination is prevalent in the minds of a large portion of the inmate population.
They will take any scripture which seems to postulate such an opinion and argue long and loud. This doctrine supposes that God has predestined certain specific individuals to be saved and certain other specific persons to be lost - no matter what they may do or not do. We can see how this would be comforting to prisoners. No matter what they have done, how heinous the crime, etc., they, quite naturally, are one who has been predestined to be saved. Students of the word of God know that specific pre.determination for salvation or condemnation is not taught in the scriptures.