In Sri Lanka, prisoners held in remand indefinitely are called 'no date' prisoners. While the law requires that they be given the opportunity for bail within two years, many are serving as much as three or four years without trial or a bail hearing according to Vijula Aralanantham, board chairperson of PF Sri Lanka. Responding to many requests for assistance received by staff and volunteers visiting prison, the ministry started the Prison Fellowship Legal Aid Team (PFLAT).

• Posted by lparker
• Published: 2008-08-28

• Read More

A recent newspaper headline from the Solomon Islands reads, “Prisoners find way to reconcile with victims.’ The article refers to the recent celebration ceremony of Sycamore Tree Project® run by Prison Fellowship Solomon Islands in Rove Central Prison in Honiara.

• Posted by lparker
• Published: 2008-08-28

• Read More

Jefferson knows about the lure of crime. Like so many ex-prisoners, he discovered that freedom from confinement does not mean freedom from problems. When he left prison at the age of 32, Jefferson had to find a job despite the stigma of a prison sentence and Brazil’s 9 percent unemployment rate. With 31 percent of Brazilians living below the poverty line, few seem to have sympathy for the prisoner.

• Posted by lparker
• Published: 2008-08-17

• Read More

Ex-offenders encounter many challenges to living a crime free life once they leave prison. Chief among these are rejection by their families and communities of origin and the fear of revenge on the part of victims or victims' families. As a response to this reality, PF Zimbabwe created the Victim Offender Reconciliation Programme to assist this reintegration process.

• Posted by lparker
• Published: 2008-07-09

• Read More

In October 2007, the InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) in Texas began a new programme called Storybook Dads. Managed by current inmates, this programme allows men in prison to record their voices reading children’s books.

• Posted by lparker
• Published: 2008-07-09

• Read More