CONFESSIONS OF A PRISON CHAPLAIN

Mary Browns engaging book describes the lifeline work of the prison chaplaincy Written by a Quaker chaplain it shows how important to prisoners this contact is and how it blends into the everpressing world of prison regimes Among the topics covered are the statutory duties of chaplains forgiveness prison chapel goers Christmas in prison delivering bad news dealing with grief or anxiety learning in prison and restorative justice which is in line with the teachings of many faiths as old as religion itself As the author insists there is that of God to be found in everyone no matter what their crime Critical perceptive and of particular interest to people working in or learning about crime and punishment Contains insights for people of all faiths or none Looks at restorative justice and positive justice Reaffirms the importance of pastoral support in the reform and rehabilitation of prisoners As the author describes in Chapter 4 long ago she was shocked to be held for ten days in a prison cell after taking part in a peace demonstration Much later in life she became a teacher in an open prison then in more recent times a Quaker prison chaplain for ten years in a closed mens prison She is the author of Inside Art 2001