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Quaker Service Good Practice in Northern Ireland

Quaker Service Good Practice in Northern Ireland. David Bass. Outline. History of Quaker Service and Criminal Justice System Recent Developments in Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland Current Quaker Service projects Restorative Justice in Northern Ireland. Origins of Quaker Service.

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Quaker Service Good Practice in Northern Ireland

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  1. Quaker ServiceGood Practice in Northern Ireland David Bass

  2. Outline • History of Quaker Service and Criminal Justice System • Recent Developments in Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland • Current Quaker Service projects • Restorative Justice in Northern Ireland

  3. Origins of Quaker Service • 1969 Belfast Friends Emergency Committee • 1971 Internment • Jan 1972 Canteen/Visitors Centre set up at Long Kesh run by volunteers • 1978 end of Internment • 1982 Visitors centre open 6 days a week and paid part time staff taken on. Playgroup organised by SCF

  4. Development of Prison Work • 1985 Pre release groups organised • 1987 Maghaberry Prison opened with Quaker Service Visitors Centre • 1989 Butler Trust Award • 1991 Childcare facilities in Maghaberry Prison Visits area – first in UK • 2000 Maze/Long Kesh closed

  5. Maze Long Kesh Site • Royal Ulster Agricultural Show • Retained historic buildings –hospital, H Block and look out tower • Other former uses • Peace Building and Conflict Reconciliation Centre • Designed by Daniel Liebeskind Studio • Library, exhibitions, conference centre, archives

  6. Changes in Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland • Good Friday Agreement • Programme for Government - addendum • Reducing Offending Strategy • Women’s Strategy • Review of the Youth Justice System • Review of Community penalties • Fine Default consultation

  7. Changes in Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland - Prisons • Chief Inspector’s Report on Northern Ireland Prisons 2010 • Prison Review Team led by Dame Anne Owers • Interim Report February 2011 • Final report October 2011 • Estates Review • Family Strategy 2010 • NIPS Strategic Efficiency and Effectiveness Programme (SEE)

  8. Strategic Effectiveness and Efficiency Programme (SEE) • No Prison Officers recruited since 1994 • Equality issues • Only trained in Security • Failed to support vulnerable prisoners • Staff demoralised

  9. Strategic Effectiveness and Efficiency Programme (SEE) • A service which is:- • At the leading edge • Example of best practice in modern custodial services • Reduces the risk of re-offending • Makes a positive impact on lives of individuals it works with

  10. Strategic Effectiveness and Efficiency Programme (SEE) • Revised roles for Prison Officers and Support Staff • Recruitment of new Prison Officers • Focus on Rehabilitation • New training scheme • Offender Centred approach

  11. Maghaberry Today • The most complicated prison in Western Europe • High security prison • Over 1000 prisoners – all men • 550 on remand – highest rate in Western Europe • Fine defaulters • Over 100 lifers • Separated inmates – Loyalist/Republican • Many vulnerable inmates

  12. What is Maghaberry like? • Layout • Dealing with Prison authorities • Complaints System

  13. Quaker Service at Maghabery Today • Visitors Centre • Transport • Services within the Prison • Family Support Group • Prison Officer training • Quaker Connections

  14. Visitor Centre – What goes on? It provides practical and emotional support to the families and friends of inmates at HMP Maghaberry.

  15. Letter from a Mother “To all at the Quakers. Thank you for your kindness, compassion and support over the last days and over the years. The shop, the centre, the bus drivers, and especially the family visits, which brought great family support and bonding. We really appreciate all that you have done. Love and every blessing

  16. What goes on? • Info and advice • Emotional support • Cafe • Tea Bar • Advocacy • 3 Play areas • 1 Shuttlebus

  17. Practical Support How to book a visit What can I bring? How do I get there?

  18. A Grand Day Out? Enniskillen – Belfast bus 9.25 am Belfast – Lisburn train 12.10 pm Lisburn – Maghaberry bus 1.30 pm Visit Maghaberry – Lisburn bus 4.45 pm Lisburn – Belfast train 5.15 pm Belfast – Enniskillen bus 6.05 pm Arrive Enniskillen 8.20 pm

  19. Practical and Emotional Support The value of : Cafe and childcare Asking “How are you?” Telling a story

  20. What Issues do families face? • Family breakdown • Stigma • Financial poverty • Emotional poverty • Social exclusion • Drug and alcohol • Mental Health • Relief / Guilt • Grief

  21. Father of an Inmate “I have lost my son, but I can’t grieve, because he hasn’t actually died.”

  22. Issues facing Children of Inmates Trauma of absent parent Growing up “too soon” Problems at school Bullying “Invisible” Group Written off?

  23. Our Play Area

  24. Child Centred Visits Focus is on the Child Dad and Children can move around Our staff facilitate play Mums go off with family officer

  25. Belfast Family Support Group Frederick Street Meeting House Share Stories Provide Support Poetry / Exercises Guest Speakers

  26. Advocacy Speaking to Prison Service Asking questions Writing a Complaint Voicing Concern/ Lobbying

  27. Letter from a Mother “Just wanted to say that you all do a terrific job, and make a big difference to a person like me. The cafe is a place of ‘normality’ in the middle of the madness.”

  28. Think Family • Training session for new Prison Officers • Led by Quaker Service and delivered in conjunction with other voluntary bodies • Aim • To raise awareness of the vital role of families in prisoners’ resettlement and consider good practice to strengthen family relationships

  29. Think Family • Link to NIPS Family Strategy • Impact on children • Impact on Partners • DVDs – A Mother’s Story and It’s a tough time for everyone • 8 Role Exercise

  30. Providing Family Support Supporting Isolated Inmates ‘True godliness does not turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it’ William Penn

  31. WHY? Developed in response to various studies and reports which highlighted the importance of families involvement with an inmate during his time in prison Having regular positive visits reinforces good family relations, aids rehabilitation and reduces the risk of reoffending

  32. Inmates who are visited regularly by family & friends are 39% less likely to reoffend 43% of sentenced and 48% of remand prisoners lose regular contact when they enter prison

  33. Inmates who receive few visits tend to be the most unsettled or the most anonymous on their landings One of the main risk factors for self harm and suicide was lack of visits and isolation

  34. Volunteer Roles VISITOR SUPPORT Providing practical and emotional support to families and friends visiting inmates in HMP Maghaberry INMATE BEFRIENDING Providing emotional support to inmates who receive few or no visits

  35. Belfast Telegraph Sunday, 8 July 2012 A prisoner found hanged in his cell was the 6th suicide in 18th months at jails in Northern Ireland

  36. “I’ve never had any real friends”

  37. “Me Da’s a druggie... he’s been in here... and me Ma’s been on the drink since I was wee”

  38. “I’ve got nobody to care about and nobody cares about me”

  39. “My mum used to visit but she’s got cancer now” “I don’t want my wee girl to see me in here”

  40. “I just keep to myself in here... you can’t let anybody know what you’re thinking”

  41. Client Satisfaction Survey Inmates reporting an increase in – Self esteem/confidence = 100% Something to look forward to = 100% Ability to cope with their situation = 67% Ability to get on better with others = 67%

  42. “Getting a visit gives me a reason to get cleaned up” “It puts a spring in my step”

  43. “I don’t know if you do understand, but I feel now as though somebody cares” “I feel more hopeful after a visit” “It’s something to look forward to in a big, boring, unexciting week”

  44. Quaker Connections Volunteers

  45. “Sometimes he says things to try to shock me or test my commitment, but I just keep going back” “Volunteering for QC is challenging, but I feel it is very worthwhile and positive”

  46. “Offering a listening ear to an isolated inmate, or simply a smile or helping hand to a visitor who is visiting their loved one, hopefully makes them feel that someone cares”

  47. Quaker Care Charity Shops • Community Service work placements • Work placements from Hydebank Wood • “ Before I came to Quaker Care my life was falling apart…….” • “Self esteem is significantly raised….”

  48. Quaker Cottage Teenage Project Cross community family support centre Serves the most deprived areas of north & west Belfast Those most ‘at risk’ or ‘in need’ High risk of offending and having experienced social exclusion 70+ young people each year 80% attendance rate

  49. The world through our eyes ‘Man on the moon’

  50. The world through our eyes ‘Modern day Romero and Juliet ‘

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