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Up one levelDocuments addressing justice issues from around the world. The majority were produced by individuals associated with Prison Fellowship around the world.
Restorative Reintegration - A New Approach to Prisoner Aftercare in New Zealand
There are around 8000 prisoners currently in the prison system. There will be a further 1000 prisoners in the system by 2011. Around 9000 prisoners are released from prison each year. About 50% of all released prisoners will receive a Corrections reintegration plan on leaving. The remaining 4,500 will get their $350 and a bus ticket. The first 3 – 6 months is the crucial period for released prisoners. Many prisoners walk out of prison, determined to make a new start. The first 3 – 6 months are critical. They need help with housing, employment, debt management, and family and community relationships. If they get help from mentors and the community in the first six months, the chance of them reoffending drops by around 40%. If they face barriers, red tape, and stigmatization, it becomes difficult to keep on the straight and narrow. That is where Prison Fellowship comes in. Over the last four years, Prison Fellowship has developed a holistic approach to prisoner reintegration known as “Restorative Reintegration”
Crime, Christians and the Spirit of Punishment
This paper discusses the attitude of New Zealanders and New Zealand Christians to issues of prisons and punishment, and the role of the State in shaping public opinion. It also speculates on why, as a Christian community, we lack a clearly enunciated Christian worldview on punishment and justice, based on biblical principles.
Youth and the Criminal Justice System: Context and Practices Within Asia
This paper was prepared for presentation and discussion at the VIVA Asia Cutting Edge Conference in Bangkok, Thailand on 19 – 23 November 2007. The conference theme, The Child Outside the Door, Strengthening Christian Responses to Invisible and Marginalized Children in Asia, addresses children who are in different ways invisible. Invisible children, such as children affected by the criminal justice system, are often those who are most in need and whose situation means they are least likely to benefit from development and social service.
Punishment and Sentencing: Courts and Community. A Question of Attitude
In our responses and attitudes as Christians to the problem of crime and the depravity of criminal behaviour and its perpetrators, we surely have to begin by acknowledging that every person, criminal or not, is of such value to God that there is rejoicing amongst the angels, Jesus tells us, when one sinner repents (Luke 15:10).
Saving New Zealand – the Role of the Church and Faith Based Organisations in Criminal Justice
The first speaker at this Congress, Brian Winslade, National Leader of the Baptist Union, provided the inspiration for this paper. His description of Christianity as a “subversive activity” and the idea that we do our best work “under the radar” struck accord with my experience over the last decade, in dealing with issues of law and order, and criminal justice, as it relates to prisoners, ex-prisoners, victims and their whänau/families. His call for us to “Be the church” and become “local communities of transformation” is a recurring theme in the strategic direction being taken by Prison Fellowship New Zealand over the next decade.
Satisfying Justice:Victims, Justice and the Grain of the Universe
In biblical and Jewish tradition, care for the poor and weak – for those in situations of extreme need or vulnerability, such as widows and orphans, immigrants and prisoners, the sick and the destitute – is one of the primary obligations laid on God's people. The biblical writers repeatedly declare God's unwavering concern for the poor, and God's insistence that those on the margins of the covenant community be afforded special provision and protection. An aspiration for what we call “social justice” permeates biblical law, and its neglect by those in positions of authority provokes enraged protests from the Hebrew prophets.
No Future without Forgiveness: The practice of Victim-Offender Reconciliation in NZ
In my presentation today I will speak about PFNZ’s work in prisons that focus on programmes and processes that address restorative justice values and principles.
On Justice and Reconciliation
Every two years, representatives of the national PFs assemble for consultations, exchange of information and ideas, training, and spiritual nourishment. At two of those meetings the representatives studied, discussed and debated two fundamental dimensions of the work of PF around the world: justice and reconciliation. Each meeting produced a written declaration of PF’s understanding of and commitment to these dimensions.
Operation Jericho- Breaking Down the Walls Between the Church and Prisons
Originally published in Inside Out. The Newsletter of Prison Fellowship New Zealand. April 2002.
The Significance of Christianity in 'Reforming' Prisoners
This study investigates whether Christianity has a reformative influence in the lives of prisoners who consider themselves ‘genuine’ Christians. Interviews were conducted with forty-five prisoners and fifteen ex-prisoners (who had been released from prison as Christians) - all high/medium-security inmates with long sentences.
Prison: Is there any alternative. A New Zealand Snapshot
Judge S. A. Thorburn points to the rising numbers of offenders being sentenced to imprisonment in New Zealand in recent decades. Additionally, rates of re-offending are high, particularly among those who served long sentences in prison. In view of these realities, Thorburn raises questions about imprisonment. Is imprisonment effective, or is it counter-productive? What is the purpose of imprisonment? Is there a better way? Are there alternatives? To explore these questions and possible answers, and chiefly in the context of New Zealand, Thorburn reviews the history of prisons, two paradigms of criminal justice (the one punitive and the other restorative), alternative sentences, and legislative and criminal justice developments in New Zealand.
Restorative Justice : Forgiveness and Terrorism
Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Mark 11:13
Project Help: Restorative Justice
From 2002-2004, Project Help a ministry of the the Southern Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) focused on restorative justice. The project identified different ways that churches can provide services to those affected by crime and developed several ministry resources. The leadership magazine Dimension, featured articles addressing the needs of all those affected by crime. These articles are reprinted here.
What is restorative justice?
This introductory document is available in English, Spanish, French, and Russian.
Draft Charter on Rights of Prisoners
Developed by Penal Reform International, this Charter of Fundamental Rights of Prisoners outlines conditions for appropriate treatment of offenders. It is available in English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
It's Time for Restorative Justice
This short brochure describes restorative justice and discusses the need for justice reform.
Sharing in the Ministry of Forgiveness - a way of Engaging the Church
The following thoughts are basically my reflections on forgiveness. These reflections are drawn from my experience of the 2000 coup in Fiji and the work of my wife and me (my wife especially) with those people living with HIV and AIDS, whose questions about life and faith not only speak about rejection and hatred but also about learning to forgive and be forgiven. I hope that these reflections will resonate with your experiences of working with prisoners and their families in the various countries you come from.