The Salvation Army’s Reintegration Service helps ex-prisoners reconnect with the community in a way that’s safe for them and others. But that’s not always an easy task in a country prone to Not in My Backyard syndrome.
While we would all likely agree that part of the purpose of the prison system is to rehabilitate those within its walls, there is still understandable nervousness about where prisoners will live when they leave the prison gates behind—particularly those who’ve served time for violent or sexual offending. Sometimes communities are not prepared to give people the opportunity to make change and instead complain that having ex-prisoners as neighbours will bring down property values or neighbourhoods will become dangerous places where no one is safe.
Some ex-prisoners do go on to offend again. And that’s a terrible thing. But I’d still far rather know that recently released prisoners were supported by good people, than left to their own devices and feeling isolated and excluded. I’d imagine such exclusion could easily lead to boredom and anger, which surely makes a person’s old criminal ways seem attractive once more.
The important thing must be helping people feel better about themselves and their potential, encouraging them to see opportunities rather than obstacles, and genuinely wanting them to succeed on the outside. To come alongside them as cheerleaders who treat them with dignity and respect, rather than nay-sayers looking for any excuse to point the finger.
If we’re serious about reducing recidivism, surely we have to be serious about making room for those who have returned to the community after prison? If they’re not serving a life sentence behind bars, we have no right to make them serve one on the outside. We’re more likely to rehabilitate lives in community, than if we exclude people from community.
Christina Tyson
Editor
Psalm 68:6 New International Version
‘God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing …’
Nga Waiata 68:6
‘E whakanohoia ana e te Atua te mokemoke ki te whare; e whakaputaina ana e ia ngā herehere ki te ora …’