Address Child Abuse Issues from Every Angle – Prison Fellowship

“We must take every opportunity we can to address issues of child abuse, from as many different angles as possible. Prison Fellowship volunteers and staff are strategically positioned to deal with child abuse issues through the trust we builds with prisoners and their families.” That is the view of Kim Workman, National Director of Prison Fellowship.

“Our experience is that about 80 – 85% of all Maori prisoners, and a high percentage of non-Maori, have been subject to either physical or sexual abuse as children. Those staff and volunteers who work in the faith based unit and in prisoner after care are often able to bring prisoners to a point where they acknowledge their history of abuse, and seek professional help. That is often the first step toward personal rehabilitation. Where family violence is involved, prisoners are motivated to acknowledge past actions and move toward a process of reconciliation with their family and victims.”

“The children of prisoners are 6 to 7 times more likely to end up in prison than the children of non-prisoners. They are also more likely to be the victims of child abuse. Prison Fellowship currently runs in-prison parenting programs for fathers, which are well attended, and make a positive impact on the men. Prisoners are vitally interested in raising children, and keen to learn ways of disciplining children other than by physical abuse.”

“By becoming closely involved with prisoners both before and after release, we build a high level of trust with prisoners and their families, including gang families. That in turn, has led to the opportunity to counsel and support families dealing with issues of domestic violence, child abuse and teenage violence.”

“Many of our volunteers are “wounded healers” – ex-prisoners and reformed gang members who have easy access to the homes of offenders, are able to identify those family members committed to change, and who are equipped to help others.”

“Most serious young offenders have a history of abuse and neglect as children. While they only represent between 5 – 10% of all youth offenders, they are the ones who become career criminals. If the community can respond effectively, and provide a safe, loving and caring environment, that percentage can be significantly reduced. Unfortunately, imprisonment at an early age increases the likelihood that the youth offender will become a career criminal. “

“We must build a comprehensive, nationwide early intervention policy, which recognises and responds to the needs of children as young as pre-schoolers, who can be identified as struggling. We need effective programmes for young offenders, which work. For some that may involve “multi-systemic family therapy, using a range of experts working with an offender’s whole family. For some it may be a significant community agency or individual, working intensively with a family over many years. A focus on developing resilience within ‘at risk’ families, and building on existing strengths within the family unit, are all strategies that work well.

ENDS

www.pfnz.org.nz

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