Category - prisons

Churches encouraged to focus on hope in Prisons Week

staff writers — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:37:21 +0000

Churches and Christian groups across Britain are being encouraged to hold special services and events to mark Prisons Week from 15-21 November 2009. The theme for the Week this year is 'Hold Fast to Hope'.

Imprisoning hope and reason

Martin E. Marty — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 03:00:08 +0100

No other democratic nation today imprisons people on such a scale or for as long as the US, Martin E. Marty is reminded. Visiting prisoners is a central test of devotion to the Jesus of the gospels. We are also called to a vision of restoration and release.

Private prisons will 'continue hurting children'

agency reporter — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:51:24 +0000

The Howard League for Penal Reform has slammed the government’s decision to allow private security companies running child jails to continue using pain on children.

Questions raised about government's plans for offender management

staff writers — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:30:25 +0100

Tough questions are being raised over the implications over the British government’s plans to further increase and promote the role of faith groups in the management of offenders, both in prisons and in the community.

USA reconsiders prison religious book ban after protests

Ecumenical News International — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:31:15 +0100

The United States Federal Bureau of Prisons has said it will return "non-approved" religious books and other materials that were removed from the shelves of federal prison libraries because of concerns over the threat of terrorism.

Call for 'first night' centres in local prisons after suicide figures released

staff writers — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 07:57:30 +0100

The Howard League for Penal Reform has today welcomed a drop in suicide figures in 2006, but warned that local prisons remain the worst hit for suicides among their inmates.

Reforming bishop to head up prison monitoring group

staff writers — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 07:12:32 +0000

A network of independent prison monitoring groups is to be headed up by the Bishop of Worcester, Dr Peter Selby, who is an advocate of reform and of restorative justice.

Prisons and opposition to Trident replacement on C of E agenda

staff writers — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 18:09:33 +0000

The Church of England's General Synod is to be debate the Government's proposals to replace the Trident nuclear weapons system, as well as the crisis in Britain's prisons, it was announced yesterday.

Archbishop of Canterbury backs restorative alternatives to failing prisons

staff writers — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 15:45:57 +0000

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has criticized society's over-reliance on prisons ‚Ä' and is calling for a commission of enquiry into the penal justice system in the UK, which he says is failing both offenders and victims because it is not restorative.

Bishop of Worcester backs prisons inspector against government axe

staff writers — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 12:00:00 +0100

In a lively debate in the House of Lords yesterday, the Anglican Bishop of Worcester, Dr Peter Selby, spoke out firmly in favour of the retention of an independent inspectorate of prisons, forcing the government onto the back foot on the issue.