HOME ABOUT DISMAS » WHAT OTHERS SAY » CAREERS NEWS » PARTNERSHIPS CONTACT You are here: Home / About Dismas / History Our History From humble beginnings, a national leader It was 1964 and Father William Diersen, a Roman Catholic priest and Chaplain at the Kentucky State Reformatory, was frustrated by the seemingly “revolving door” of people returned to prison for violating conditions of their release. He understood — like few others at the time — that without the necessary job, life skills and a support structure, individuals tend to return to a life of crime, which leads to more victimization. Father Diersen also knew that to effect change would not be easy. The criminal justice system itself was rife with abuse, and offenders were feared and stigmatized by the public. But Father Diersen’s character, focus, and unbending will persisted. With the help of the five Louisville Councils of the Knights of Columbus, Father Diersen opened a 15-bed re-entry facility — or “halfway house” as it was then known — staffed with volunteers. He called the facility Dismas, so named for the repentant thief who was crucified with Christ. From this modest beginning and rich history, Dismas has grown to become one of the largest not-for-profit providers of residential re-entry services in the United States. Dismas operates as Diersen Charities in New Mexico and Tennessee. Today, the healing hand of Dismas extends to numerous areas of the country, and the scope of our work has evolved well beyond the original confines of that first Dismas facility. We are actively involved in alcohol and drug treatment, job training, domestic violence intervention, education and a vast array of support programs and services. This is how Dismas lives its motto of Healing the Human Spirit. About our logo The Dismas logo is a representation of the beautiful rose window discovered at our very first facility in Louisville, Kentucky. To create a place of healing and restoration, Dismas renovated this former church, and in the process, moved and restored this beautiful rose window. Moving the window to a new location and restoring it revealed beautiful highlights and gave our center a new light. Immediately, we realized how this process of moving, restoring, and seeing something from a new perspective represented what we do on a daily basis with our residents. Since then, the concept of the window and the light it brings has been our logo and a strong symbol for what we do, including the name for our newsletter to the communities we serve, The Light. Fast Facts Centers of Service Programs and Services Leadership Values and Beliefs History Mission PREA LATEST NEWS Dismas Charities, The Community With Immunity! To recognize staff who made the commitment to fully vaccinate for the purpose of creating a Community with Immunity, Dismas Charities President CEO Raymond J. Weis announced a lottery worth a total of $9,000. On July 5th, Weis pulled the names of three actively employed members of Dismas Charities who have been fully vaccinated. Hattiesburg […] Please Remember Those Who Gave All Memorial Day, formerly Decoration Day, honors those who have died in the nation’s wars. It originated in the American Civil War when citizens placed flowers on the graves of those who had been killed in battle. Since 1868 Memorial Day has recognized those who worked to keep this country free by “decorating the graves of […] From the Dismas Charities Family To Yours, Happy Easter! DISMAS IS DRIVEN BY ITS VALUES & BELIEFS ACCOUNTABILITY DIVERSITY HEALING INTEGRITY RESPECT STEWARDSHIP