Church members urged to listen to the voices of prisoners

Church members are encouraged to listen to all those affected by or working in the criminal justice system – people in prison, their families, victims of crime, chaplains and prison staff.

‘Hear My Voice' is the theme of Prisoner's Week (17-23 November) a church-led initiative aimed at stimulating discussion, highlighting concerns and sharing hope in prisons and communities across Scotland.

It seeks to remind people about the plight of those incarcerated, their families and highlight the pastoral care work carried out by chaplains.

Launched at Letham St Mark's Church in Perth on Sunday, Prisoner's Week is run by the Prisoners Week Trust.

It believes that all people affected by crime – those serving sentences, their families, victims of crime and those released – should be cared for and supported.

The service was jointly led by Rev Anne Stewart, a chaplain at HMP Castle Huntly, and her husband Rev Jim Stewart, minister of Letham St Mark's Church.

Prison governors, chaplains, serving prisoners, ex-prisoners, family representatives and staff from the Families Outside charity attended.

Listen to God's voice

Barbara Dickson OBE, patron of the Prisoners Week Trust, and Theresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service were also there.

Ms Medhurst said: "Prisoner's week plays an important role by reminding people in our care that they are not forgotten and there are those who are there to listen to them, to hear their voice.

"Prisoner's Week also reminds us of the people who are affected by or involved in caring for those who have offended – the victims of crime, the families of those imprisoned, prison staff and chaplains along with a whole range of third sector organisations.

"It also challenges each one of us to listen to God's voice, to the call to speak up for those on the margins, for those who do not have a voice.

"This can be challenging in the face of a ‘lock them up, tough on crime' populous narrative.

"Raising awareness is the other side of what Prisoner's Week seeks to do by promoting the Prisoner's Week Charter, speaking to school groups and on Wednesday (today) there will be a nationwide webinar, linking into the modern studies curriculum on justice."

Church of Scotland minister Rev Douglas Creighton is the Facilitating Chaplain at HMP Perth and provides an insight into his role.

CrossReach, the operating name of the Church's social care council, runs a visitor centre at HMP Perth.

Ms Dickson said being isolated from family members and friends is a punishment in itself for prisoners but "not being heard is worse".

"Everyone needs to feel contact and the certainty of being listened to especially in the hour of need," she added.

"Listening is a gift and a process of healing for those in need of a friendly ear.

"But surely listening to God is of most importance, opening ourselves to His plan which is only possible through not listening to distractions of any kind but taking time for Him in our lives to listen.

"It seems to me that it is only in silence that we can hear God's voice, only in the quiet of our minds, can we really listen to Him and what He needs us to be and to do.

"And in that quiet place of listening the possibilities are endless."

Mrs Stewart said it could be argued that when somebody is sent to prison, their "loved ones also do the sentence".

A woman from Shetland whose son is a prisoner at HMP Grampian in Peterhead shared her thoughts on navigating incarceration from a distance, including feelings of panic, loss and isolation.

"Having a family member in prison is hard, in ways many would not understand," she said.

"There are so many emotions to deal with - anger, resentment, sadness and even relief.

"When my son went to prison I felt panic and loss, and having never been in this situation before I had no idea what to do, or where to go.

"Everything felt alien and intimidating and being so far away complicated things even more.

"I live in Shetland and to go to a one-hour visit could take three days return if using the ferry, and cost hundreds of pounds in travel or hotels.

"The result was I could not afford to see my son the way other families on the mainland could see their loved ones.

"This was so difficult for myself and my son, as I was his only visitor."

The woman said she received great support from Families Outside – a charity Mrs Stewart described as "marvellous".

"The staff in the family hub at Grampian prison went out of their way to help, and it meant so much to have that, but I would like to see perhaps a designated support worker for island families who understands the difficulties faced," added the woman.

"This would help ease the pressure of dealing with those issues."

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Mrs Stewart said it was "lovely" to jointly share the service with her husband.

"People came from far and wide to the service, and the congregation included Bishop Andrew McKenzie from the Roman Catholic diocese of Dunkeld who led the prayers and Rev Graham Bell, chaplain at HMP Glenochil preached," she added.

"There was also a ‘market place', giving people the opportunity to learn about charities working with people in prison or after release, and with their families.

"Another ministry couple were having a similar ‘worlds collide' moment as Rev Margaret Shuttleworth, chaplain at HMP Stirling was in the congregation as was her husband Rev Alec Shuttleworth who took part in a drama which was written by me and performed by Alec with Rev Jill Clancy, chaplain at HMP Barlinnie."