I'm in the Jail tomorrow- the difference is I'll get out!
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/N5Ts4M3irWM" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
The central committee of the Mission and Discipleship Council sometimes take their meetings out of 121 George Street. Its an opportunity to think about issues of discipleship and mission in different settings. It is a valuable excercise. Maybe this is something all Kirk Session should do? You know, hold a meeting in another venue away from the church buildings? I think more elders might turn up. What you think? Anyway,this time we will be making history. I think it will be the first time such a committee of the General Assembly, has met in a prison.
Donald Scott the Senior Chaplain of the prison will be hosting the committee. I hope he finds it an encouraging day. So often prison Chaplaincy is overlooked and those who send their lives working with prisoners are seldom given the support and the recognition they deserve. I think next week might be "Prisoners' Week". This is a week when some of the issues that surround prisoners is brought to the public domain. I wonder if some of the issues that Dr Andrew McLellan, the Chief Prison Inspector, has raised in the past about Polmont have been addressed? I think i'll raise the question tomorrow.
Dr Andrew MacLellan is reported to have said, "the situation in the young offenders' institution drives me to despair." Writing in the Sunday Herald in February 2006 ,McLellan says: "What should worry us most about Polmont is that every day it is becoming more and more overcrowded. I rejoiced when I saw the fine new accommodation block opened three years ago; I now despair when I see these good conditions being spoiled by ever-increasing numbers of young men being crammed into them." He continues, "If we want our jails to be safe then we need to make it possible for prison staff to do their jobs. Overcrowding makes everything worse for everyone."
These comments were made in 2006, only a week after the Sunday newspapers highlighted the escalating levels of violence and indiscipline in Polmont, the country's national centre for criminals aged 16 to 21. Previously unreleased figures showed that despite having only 9-per cent of the total prison population, Polmont's inmates committed 16-per cent of all crimes behind bars.
As I write this article the Conservatives Social Justice think tank have appointed ex prisoner and cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken to head up an Inquiry into the state of prisons in the UK today. I don't know about you, but I know people in Bo'ness who have family in prison. They worry about them, especially those who have young adults serving time. They hope that they'll come through the other end unscathed. A tall order.
If it were possible to make jail a place where people get the opportunity to make amends and change don't you think that would be a good thing? Instead of it being the training ground for further criminal activity. Let me know what you think. Should we as a congregation being so near the prison get more involved with prisoners? Should we be offering to help Donald in his work? If your interested in prison work get in touch.
Posted By: Louise Hankin On: 14 Nov 2007 At: 5:41pm
Whatever your political persuasion, it’s surely great news that Jonathan Aitken is heading up an inquiry into the state of prisons in the UK. For those wanting to find out more about what Mr Aitken stands for these days and his perspective on the link between Psalms and prisons can search on i-Tunes for his talk at Holy Trinity Brompton (home of Alpha) on 16 Oct 2006…