Restorative Justice Manual Available
Many churches establish jail and prison ministries with the best of intentions and yet often are not aware of the most effective methods to use in working with inmates or of the rules and regulations that apply at various institutions, says Rev. John Lamsma, author of a new handbook that works to address these and other issues.
A veteran of more than 25 years of prison chaplaincy and administration for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons, Lamsma is Restorative Justice project manager for the United States for the Christian Reformed Church in North America. The just-released prison ministry volunteer training workshop was developed for the Office of Social Justice of the CRCNA.
Lamsma recently previewed his manual – "Prison Ministry Volunteer Training Workshop" – at a gathering at a Christian Reformed Church in Arbor, Mich. He spoke to volunteers about the ministry and especially its emphasis on Restorative Justice.
"This is an important ministry, equipping churches interested in working with inmates," said Lamsma. "We work to enable churches to do Restorative Justice . . . The key principle is helping inmates take responsibility for their behavior. We want to help inmates realize that they have harmed the image of God inside of themselves and others."
Lamsma said the criminal justice system in the United States, which with 2.3 million inmates has the highest incarceration rate in the world, generally operates within a retributive justice understanding of crime, punishment and justice.
Inmates are confined behind bars to serve time for their crime, and little emphasis is placed on rehabilitation or finding ways to bring about reconciliation and healing between inmates and the victims of their crimes.
"Restorative justice provides another way," said Lamsma. "Where retributive justice is concerned with violation against the state, restorative justice is first and foremost concerned with the person or people who were harmed in a crime . . . Restorative justice aims for healing of victims, for communities affected, and even for offenders, in the hopes that a cycle of destructive behavior will be broken."
Restorative justice is a significantly different way of looking at and responding to the problem of crime – a way that can lead to healing and transformation for victims and offenders alike, says the manual.
"At its heart, restorative justice is about relationships," Lamsma writes in the workshop manual. "It asks who has been harmed, and what needs to happen to repair that harm. When used in prison ministry, restorative justice can help inmates take responsibility for their actions and understand the impact of their behavior."
Lamsma's training manual helps ministries better understand how they can help inmates acknowledge and take personal responsibility for their own behavior.
The manual also discusses how, using biblical principles, members of a jail ministry can work with the offender to rebuild relationships with individuals as well as the community itself that has been affected by the crime. This is not easily accomplished and volunteers need to be aware that restorative justice requires patience and grace and can often take many years.
"The key to useful restorative justice is having the ability to integrate your faith with walking with prisoners through their challenges," said Lamsma. "It is important that volunteers model and live a Christian lifestyle."
The workshopmanual offers an early session that helps workshop participants better understand the type of lives inmates are forced to live when incarcerated.
The manual also helps jail and prison ministry leaders and participants to understand prison rules and policies. For instance, some institutions don't allow volunteers to bring in keys, even their car keys. Bibles, religious tracts or study materials left by volunteers without permission can be confiscated.
If an institution's security fence isn't visible because of heavy fog or snow, it is frequently considered a security risk and regularly scheduled programs, including religious programs, are canceled. Some rules may seem unnecessary, but church volunteers implicitly agree to all the rules when they decide to enter a jail or prison to do ministry.
Another important thing to remember is that when a church group enters a prison and ministers to inmates, "almost all information shared during study or worship time is" protected by privacy laws.
The manual goes on to warn ministry volunteers against being too free in sharing prayer requests and petitions offered by inmates. Volunteers need to be especially careful what they tell their churches about inmates with whom they have worked.
Overall, Lamsma said, he encourages churches to befriend inmates and stand by them. In a time when there are so many inmates and dwindling public resources to help them, this type of personal interaction is sorely needed.
The manual also discusses the manner in which ministry volunteers ought to see their roles in this type of outreach.
"When you come into an institution, you need to be able to practice unconditional acceptance," said Lamsma. "You need for the inmates to be able to let their hair down, knowing that they are not going to be violated."
Once trust is established, the real work of restorative justice can begin. "Care and love can't be overdone," said Lamsma. "Realize, though, that you are doing ministry within boundaries and that the boundaries in an institution are clearly defined." For more information, visit: Restorative Justice.
