Prisons Sunday is on 8 October this year and marks the beginning of Prisons Week, which continues until the following Saturday. The diocesan Criminal Justice Affairs Group (CJAG) aims to offer a Christian perspective and advise on criminal justice matters.
On Prisons’ Sunday each year, the Cathedral has welcomed CJAG’s input on a specific theme. This year’s service aims to raise awareness and encourage prayer for everyone affected by imprisonment and the Criminal Justice System (CJS).
It is clear that the system in Britain is in a state of severe crisis which affects the whole of our society, not just those in prison and their families. Britain has the highest imprisonment rates in Western Europe. Numbers are steadily growing despite evidence that redirecting resources to welfare, housing, education and health and social care would result in holistic investment in communities that would address the root causes of crime and violence. Community sentences cost 10% of the cost of a prison place. Society has lost its sense of justice and humanity, and CJAG asks what does it take for this to be taken seriously and for change to happen?
Please pray for all those in and affected by the CJS, for a more compassionate approach to crime, and for the work of CJAG and those
groups and organisations they work with.
