Prison
I have just finished a two week placement at Lowdham Grange Prison. This is one of the few privately run prisons in the country, run on behalf of the Home Office by Serco.
I was well looked after by the Chaplaincy team, and was privileged to spend some time with the prisoners, finding out about the issues that they face.
One of the things that struck me most was the number of children that there are in our communities whose fathers are in prison. These children have done nothing wrong, but are growing up without contact with their dads. One project that aims to help these kids, even if in a small way, is Angel Tree.
Another key issue is finding somewhere to live and to work when you get out. I heard the story of one lad who had left prison and got himself trained up as a forklift truck driver. After 120 job applications over 18 months he had lost hope and motivation and ended up back in prison. I know that employing an ex offender, or renting property to one, is a risk, but if we are truly about redemption, surely it is Christians who ought to be taking those risks.
I experienced the power of Victim Awareness programmes, in particular one called Sycamore Tree. This is part of an initiative to introduce restorative justice ideas into the UK penal system, in place of the retributive justice ideas that we currently work within. If we are actually going to reduce offending behaviour in our society and reduce prison population I believe that it is only through improving communication between different groups in society and owning the effects that our actions have on others.
Finally, if this stuff has been nudging you to get more involved, there are lots of opportunities to visit people in prisons, and take your own place in this healing process of communication.
I was well looked after by the Chaplaincy team, and was privileged to spend some time with the prisoners, finding out about the issues that they face.
One of the things that struck me most was the number of children that there are in our communities whose fathers are in prison. These children have done nothing wrong, but are growing up without contact with their dads. One project that aims to help these kids, even if in a small way, is Angel Tree.
Another key issue is finding somewhere to live and to work when you get out. I heard the story of one lad who had left prison and got himself trained up as a forklift truck driver. After 120 job applications over 18 months he had lost hope and motivation and ended up back in prison. I know that employing an ex offender, or renting property to one, is a risk, but if we are truly about redemption, surely it is Christians who ought to be taking those risks.
I experienced the power of Victim Awareness programmes, in particular one called Sycamore Tree. This is part of an initiative to introduce restorative justice ideas into the UK penal system, in place of the retributive justice ideas that we currently work within. If we are actually going to reduce offending behaviour in our society and reduce prison population I believe that it is only through improving communication between different groups in society and owning the effects that our actions have on others.
Finally, if this stuff has been nudging you to get more involved, there are lots of opportunities to visit people in prisons, and take your own place in this healing process of communication.
posted by Carter Clan at 7:46 pm
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