CJR News

Short articles highlighting PF national affiliate justice work.

Sycamore Tree Programme from Prison Fellowship England and Wales

In this four minute video, members of Prison Fellowship England and Wales share about restorative justice and the ministry's adaptation of the Sycamore Tree Proejct (R).

PF Swaziland volunteer brings victims and offenders together

Recently, Dennis Shongwe responded to a case of common assault in his community by approaching both the victim and the offender to ask if they wanted to participate in a restorative conference. In doing so, the active PF Swaziland volunteer decided to put into practice some of the concepts he learned at the International Diploma in Restorative Justice course in July 2011.

PF Nicaragua providing legal services for prisoners

In 2011, PF Nicaragua formed the Defensoría Social to provide legal counsel to prisoners who may have completed sentences or earned the possibility of release through various legal mechanisms. A team consisting of three volunteer lawyers and eleven law students identify qualifying prisoners and bring their case before the courts.

Restoring Peace

It's not your average prison, but that is good. Read about PF Costa Rica's faith-based prison.

Sycamore Tree Project® from a Victim’s Perspective

Recently, Martin Howard, Sycamore Tree Project® (STP) facilitator in Australia, and Ross Thompson, a victim participant, spoke about their experience in an 18 minute radio interview. Ross spoke of the impact of losing his son in a brutal murder.

Sycamore Tree Project® in Fiji’s Women’s Correctional Centre

“Having female inmates as part of the course has been an eye opening experience for all of us,” said PF Fiji’s executive director Dan Savou after facilitating his second Sycamore Tree Project® (STP) course. The course, which ran in the Women’s Correctional Centre in late 2011, included eleven female prisoners and two victims.

Sycamore Tree Project® report from Australia

From the article by Martin Howard: Once again the Sycamore Tree Project® was able to achieve remarkable outcomes in the lives of inmates and crime victims during the latest program run in late 2011.

"Everything" by the IFI drama team

Presentation from the drama team from the InnerChange Freedom Initiative programme in Lino Lakes, Minnesota.

APAC Nova Lima Receives National Recognition

On 15 December 2011, Judge Juarez Morais de Azevedo received an honourable mention award from the Prêmio Innovare for his work with APAC Nova Lima in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The national award recognises and disseminates information about innovative practises in the Brazilian justice system.

APAC Costa Rica

Recently, PF Costa Rica completed an evaluation of the success toward meeting the goals set out in the 2011 operational plan for the APAC in the Centro Semi Institucional San Augustín in the province of Heredia. Their purpose was to identify needed adjustments going into 2012.

Sycamore Tree Project®: A prison chaplain describes the impact

Shawn Verhey works as prison chaplain at Thorn Cross Young Offender Institution in England. In this interview, he describes the powerful impact of Prison Fellowship England and Wales' Sycamore Tree Project® for both prisoners and victims.

PF El Salvador signs agreement to implement a community service project

In August 2011, PF El Salvador signed a cooperation agreement with USAID to deliver oversight and organisational services for a community service alternative for juvenile offenders. The agreement provides financial and technical assistance with the national ministry offering a range of project options to various juvenile courts in municipalities located in the department of San Salvador.

PF Bahamas launches the Sycamore Tree Project®

On 3 November, PF Bahamas held the first session of the Sycamore Tree Project®(STP) after six months of preparatory work. As a part of the programme launch, the national ministry, along with the Bahamas Prison Service, hosted an opening ceremony attended by the Commissioner of Prisons and the Minister for Social Development. With permission of the six victim and six prisoner participants, several press organisations also sent representatives to the opening ceremony.

Making Amends

After PF Zimbabwe introduced Victor to God, he decided to admit that he stole a motorcycle from his boss and make amends by returning it.

Tending the Herd

PF Lesotho is serving shepherd boys who are at risk for criminal behavior through workshops and team-building exercises.

Introducing the Sycamore Tree Project® from PF England & Wales

Ciaran Nagle, a PF England and Wales volunteer, describes the Sycamore Tree Project® as run by PF England and Wales. In so doing, he tells the story of one prisoner participant who had a profound experience in the programme.

The word on everyone's lips: Reconciliation

From the article at Prison Fellowship Rwanda: News & Updates: A word closely associated with Rwanda today is 'reconciliation', but what does this really mean and how does one go about achieving it? As it turns out, PFR's Project Manager Felix is the man to ask.

Zimbabwe project welcomes ex-prisoners

From the article from the United Methodist Church News: Denford Muliliwana, a 33-year-old man released from jail after serving a six-year sentence, walked in. He wore rumpled, dark-green trousers and a white shirt with the top button undone. The eyes of the congregation were glued on him as it murmured the song of a returning prodigal son.

Prison Fellowship Nicaragua and the Supreme Court of Justice

PF Nicaragua signed an agreement with the Supreme court in order to help to prisoners who cannot afford a lawyer. According to Monsignior Peña of PF Nicaragua and the President of the Supreme Court free legal assistance "will help to the consolidation of a justice prison system that is more efficent and respectful of the human rights in the frame of the restorative justice contemplated in our "Great Charter" "Carta Magna."

Creating Business Plans for a Better Future in Texas

The InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) at the Carol Vance Unit in Richmond Texas offers participants many opportunities to build habits and skills to help them reintegrate into their communities. Among these is the Business Plan Competition, now in its eighth year.