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		<link>http://spiritualityandjustice.brahmakumaris.org</link>
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			<title>quest says:</title>
			<link>http://spiritualityandjustice.brahmakumaris.org#comment-394</link>
			<description><![CDATA[So thought provoking Phil! I guess that all each individual can do is to honour the self and when we do that we honour each individual. For some that is the beginning of change. So, I guess that says prisons do play a part. By taking someone out of their environment and helping them to begin to feel both safe and valued and to challenge them respectfully, without judgement, behaviours change.

There are so many wonderful examples every day of miracles. How wonderful if, like nursery school, we had stickers and only applauded the positive.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>quest</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:51:33 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>http://spiritualityandjustice.brahmakumaris.org#comment-394</guid>
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			<title>quest says:</title>
			<link>http://spiritualityandjustice.brahmakumaris.org#comment-393</link>
			<description><![CDATA[From my perspective on imprisonment I used to wonder who the customer was:-

The prisoner that I stood beside in the dock, locked up, counselled, interviewed, questioned and sometimes released;

The victim on whose behalf I imprisoned and exacted 'revenge';

The 'yet to be victim' whom I protected from crime;

The politician who made the rules;

The 'do-gooder' who changed the rules;

The Prison Service who employed me;

Or the general public who, as electors and tax payers, paid me.

Until that quandary is settled we cannot begin to know what we are about and until there is understanding and TRUTH about the purpose of imprisonment and the reason for criminal behaviour, we will continue to imprison the wrong people and waste funds. 

Strange thing is there is never any money for intervention but, after the crime, the magistrate remands in custody and the cost is met.

The other inescapable fact about our prisons is that they are the last resort for ALL other forms of punishment should the wrongdoer be prepared to flout that punishment and pay the price.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>quest</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2011 18:07:08 +0000</pubDate>
			<guid>http://spiritualityandjustice.brahmakumaris.org#comment-393</guid>
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			<title>quest says:</title>
			<link>http://spiritualityandjustice.brahmakumaris.org#comment-392</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Coming from a family of police officers and soldiers, I would once upon a time have said lock them up and punish them. Having had the privilege of working in a prison for 17 years my answer today is very different. Why, you might ask.

Counselli ng and running therapeutic groups has allowed me to begin to see the real person underneath the mask and underneath the horrendous crimes. While most professionals were working on addressing the offence, I started with what was going on for them when they committed the crime; how did they feel and what were they trying to achieve; the sadness, pain, shame and confusion that came up which led me to begin to focus on this persons journey. 

Listening without judgement, offering compassion, helping to set new clear boundaries that seem to have been muddled or non existent, sharing and, dare I say it, an honouring of each individual, began to melt some old barriers. After much time came the addressing of the offence and the shame, guilt and remorse that a cycle of events had come full circle, enhanced often by drug/alcohol misuse.

Time for change...time for the cycle to be broken! In fact the cycle was broken, honesty, no denial but acceptance and a feeling of the feelings. With new tools, new positive support systems and a willingness to begin to believe that each individual is worth loving, I guess what I am saying is that no amount of punishment can heal a wound; people learn well to conform but not reform. So many Lifer prisoners I met had learnt well to answer appropriate questions and behave with an ‘Oscar-winning’ performance, devoid of all feeling and emotion. Working with some of those lifers was like working with very young children who had never been nurtured, valued or even heard; the results were amazing.

For this model to be widespread would be heaven for staff working conditions and a wonderful investment both inside and outside. Maybe my dream of this, as well as the traffic control system for the Prison Service is just around the corner!

The public believe we run therapeutic systems so that offenders come out better people. Sadly they are unaware of how very little is really going on to bring about real change because of the lack of real understanding of the needs of staff and inmates. So no, I do not feel punishment achieves any good at all. Setting boundaries .... lovingly .... yes and massive, appropriate support for staff so they can continue to perform a wondrous, rewarding, enriching, and purposeful employment.

I look forward to your comments....... ............... ...........]]></description>
			<dc:creator>quest</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Sun, 09 Jan 2011 10:00:36 +0000</pubDate>
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