The penal system needs not only to be cheaper, but also more integrative
- 19th International Prison Ministry Forum deals with the privatisation of the penal system
Hückeswagen (ii, 03.11.2004) - The negotiations in the German federal state of Hesse with a private operator of the Hünfeld prison currently under construction are practically concluded. This was reported by the press spokesman for the Hesse Ministry of Justice, Senior District Prosecutor Torsten Kunze, at this year's International Forum for Christian Prison Ministry in Flensungen (Hesse). The private operator will provide around 40% of the employees at the prison, said Kunze. Security zones are excluded. Besides most industrial areas and work administration, the private operator will also guarantee social services as well as the medical and psychology service. The company will be set the condition that it must substantially improve the employment rate of the inmates, which at an average of around 50% is presently unsatisfactory. Already when building the prison, cooperation with a private sector general contractor meant that the project was completed 40% under budget, reported Kunze. In addition, a short construction time of only four years was realised.
"We don't need only a cheaper penal system, but a system with a higher level of integration" , emphasised the chairman of the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft seelsorgerlich-diakonischer Gefährdetenhilfen (BSDG) e.V. (Federal Joint Venture for Pastoral and Social Aid to Convicts and Addicts), Friedel Pfeiffer. The entry of a private-sector enterprise may give the public the impression that volunteers are no longer needed. "The public debate must make it clearer what even a privately operated penal system can't afford, and where society's power of integration is called upon" , demanded Pfeiffer. For instance, the voluntary pastoral helpers, in particular, bring in an important relationship dimension into the penal system. With their personal commitment, they underline God's offer of reconciliation and the readiness of the church and society to integrate. There are also thoughts on privatising parts of the penal system in North Rhine-Westphalia and other German states.
Some 155 delegates from 32 prison ministries on four continents met from Thursday to Sunday (28th to 31st October) at the "Flensunger Hof" (Hesse). The participants represented Christian prisoners' aid associations from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, Poland, Russia, the Ukraine, Brazil, Mongolia, South Africa and Kenya. The associations in India, Hungary and Romania were represented indirectly by their Western European partners. The build up of a prison ministry in Kenya, the reform of the young offenders' penal system and the internationalisation of prison ministries were further topics of this year's International Forum for Prison Ministry.
The Crossroads Prison Ministry (Verein Gefährdetenhilfe Scheideweg e.V.) in Hückeswagen, Germany, is preparing to build a farm for ex-convicts in Kenya's highlands. A planning team will travel to Kenya in November, and a German couple is planned to move to Kenya to lead the project next year. Among the cooperating partners is the African Inland Church (AIC). Since 1978 the association has regularly visited the country's prisons. Leading prison officers have been guests of the prison service in North Rhine-Westphalia as part of exchange programmes. With its new project, the prison ministry wants to establish a permanent presence in Kenya and create a model for the integration of released prisoners. "Because Christians know of God's offer of forgiveness, they must not refuse released prisoners the opportunity to be accepted back into society" , said the chairman of the association, Hans Eichbladt. One is hoping for many volunteer helpers from the churches. The Kenyan penal system has been the subject of international criticism in recent weeks following deaths as a result of inmate mistreatment.
The International Prison Ministry forums took place in Dunakezi (Hungary) in 2002 and in Sao Paolo in 2003. In coming years, the conference will be hosted in
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, (2005), Switzerland (2006), Austria (2007) and Poland (2008). The collective characteristic of the Christian prison ministries is their voluntary, pastoral commitment within the penal system, the welcoming of released prisoners into families and a comprehensive, Christian, aid service.