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Sycamore Tree: A Chaplain’s View

In June this year, PF Scotland completed the fifth Sycamore Tree Project® in Shotts Prison. The seven prisoner participants in the programme were recruited by the Prisons Chaplaincy Unit. After the course, the Senior Chaplain, the Rev. Allan Brown, provided this report.

PF Germany Celebrates 5 Years of Prisma

On 14 September, an estimated 1,000 people participated in the five year anniversary celebration of the Prisma programme at Youth Farm Seehaus. Various speakers praised the work of Prisma including the mayor of Leonberg and the department chief from the Ministry of Justice in Baden- Wuerttemberg State.

Exciting Times in the New Life Project

Recently, PF Norway’s New Life Project received its second group of five participants. Through this programme, PF Norway seeks to create a culture of hope and motivation in helping prisoners change behaviour and prepare for re-entry into society. The prisoner’s motivation for change is the main criterion for acceptance into the programme. Others include security and group dynamics.

Discovering Forgiveness

Helping prisoners to see the consequences of their crimes and feel remorse for their actions is what Prison Fellowship’s Sycamore Tree Project® is all about. One of the ways the programme accomplishes this is by showing offenders the impact that crime has on victims. Such was the case for juvenile prisoners (ages 16 and 17) taking part in PF Netherlands’ Sycamore Tree Project® known there as “Spreken over Schuld (SOS),” which means, “Speaking about Guilt.”

Helping Youth

A group of young men between the ages of 16 and 18 were the first to participate in PF Netherlands’ new Sycamore Tree Project®, held recently at the Youth Prison Teylingereind in Sassenheim.

National Celebration Recognizes PF Germany’s Prisma Programme

On 22 September, around 700 people gathered at Seehaus Leonberg, the farm site of PF Germany’s alternative to prison programme for young offenders called PRISMA. The gathering was a part of the ‘Germany Land of Ideas’ celebration highlighting 365 buisness, projects, institutions, etc as landmarks of inventiveness and creativity in Germany. One landmark is recognised each day of the year.

Constructing Restorative Justice in Lithuania

Recently, the Lithuanian Government approved Resolution 806 paving the way for implementing restorative justice in the country.

“Mirjam” Faith-based Unit

PF Latvia’s Mirjam faith-based unit assists women prisoners through relationship building, developing artistic talents and building self-confidence.

PF Romania Advocates for the Protection of Vulnerable Groups

PF Romania is an organizing member of the European Network on Improving Equal Treatment and Human Dignity of Members of Vulnerable Groups Sentenced for a Penal Offence.

PF Portugal Highlights Restorative Justice

This year’s Convocation theme of Love and Justice was an appropriate one for PF Portugal to use at its annual nationwide PF Volunteers Meeting. The Portuguese Government recently announced a proposal for an experimental penal mediation programme that would allow for alternative prison sentences in cases of crimes that would have required less than five years in prison.

A Simple Burglary

It looked like a tornado had hit, but what really happened felt much worse. Greet didn’t recognize her own home. Drawers were turned upside down, papers lay all over the floor and the shelves and tables that once held her most prized possessions were now bare. Her favourite jewellery, which held deep sentimental value and had been passed down from generations, were gone.

Conference on Working with Juvenile Offenders in Poland

In February, the Polish Chaplaincy and PF Poland hosted a one-day conference for those working in the area of juvenile justice.

Sycamore Tree Project® Celebration

Hundreds of PF England/Wales staff, volunteers and supporters joined several Sycamore Tree Project® victim participants for a joyous celebration at Holy Trinity Church in Coventry, England. Victims and other STP participants told moving stories of how they have been impacted by the project.

Defending the Poor

On the day he was released from prison he began looking for work. He knew his family had suffered during his time in prison and he desperately wanted to begin providing for them again. It was difficult going. Then one afternoon, a few days later, the police came and accused him of committing a robbery in the area. He was summarily arrested and dragged off to prison. As an ex-prisoner, his guilt was readily assumed. Unable to afford legal help, his conviction is all but assured. His situation is bad, and his family’s welfare is worse than ever. He feels totally isolated, forgotten and alone.

Evaluation of the Sycamore Tree Project®

The Sycamore Tree Project® is an in-prison restorative justice programme designed to help offenders understand the impact of crime on victims and the community. PF England and Wales, having implemented this programme in several prisons, recently released results of a programme evaluation.

Sycamore Tree: A Model of Restorative Justice

Prison Fellowship Northern Ireland held their first Sycamore Tree Programme with the young offenders at Hydebank Wood. The group of six young men, all under 20, who attended were clearly affected by the six week course as they were made aware of their own individual and corporate responsibility. Music,graphics, cartoons, videos and interactive work all combined to provide stimulating and thought provoking sessions.

Transforming Offenders in England and Wales

In a courtroom in London (UK) a young man accused of robbery changes his plea to guilty. Another young man asks for undisclosed offences to be taken into account and as a result gets a stiffer sentence. A drug-trafficker doing time in prison repents and seeks to rebuild his life. A murderer serving a life-sentence writes a declaration promising ‘to never again create victims by my irresponsible and violent actions’.

Youth Farm “Seehaus”

The Youth Farm "Seehaus" was created by PF Germany in 2003.

Fear Gives Way to Hope

Last year was particularly difficult for Eleanor Smith. First she was injured in a brutal assault that knocked her teeth out and left her temporarily deaf. Later her checkbook was stolen and her car was vandalised. Hoping to put the painful past behind her, she left her job as the owner of a bar and moved to a safer neighbourhood in England.