Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice is an integral part of our everyday life at a personal, national and international level, but for some reason it does not carry a high priority in many Christian circles.
The way we respond to criminal justice issues moulds our society for the future and is a reflection of our morality and treatment of our fellow human beings.
The core aim of the diocesan Criminal Justice Forum is to work at raising awareness of current and long-term issues. We also provide information so that people can make educated decisions and if necessary challenge policies.
The group consists of members with a range of connections and involvement across the criminal justice system. Traditionally there is a strong affiliation with ‘prison issues’ especially as there as two prisons in our area. HMP Whitemoor, which is a maximum security prison for men in Category A and B is situated near the town of March. HMP Littlehey is an adult category C training prison for men, near Huntingdon
There are several meetings throughout the year some of which are advertised as ‘open meetings’ with speakers and an opportunity for discussion and debate.
Each autumn we mark National Prisons’ week in the third week of November. In 2010 we welcomed Dame Anne Owers as a speaker in Ely Cathedral.
The Chair of the Criminal Justice Forum is the Revd. David Kinder, Chaplain at HMP Littlehey. If you would like further information or feel that you have something to contribute to the group you may contact our secretary Hilary Lavis.
The Board currently works to represent and support these areas of social concern:
- Asylum Seekers
- Church Urban Fund
- Churches Regional Forum
- Criminal Justice
- Ely Social Responsibility Forum External website
- Environmental matters
- Fairtrade
- Health
- International charity work
- Local Voluntary Agencies
- Newsletters
- People at Work
- Rural matters
- Travellers and gypsies
- Working with other churches
- World Mission