Crime, Community & Justice

Quakers have a long-standing historic involvement with the criminal justice system on both sides of the bars.

This involvement continues into the present day with a commitment by Quakers to address the criminal justice system at all levels from individual prisoners to responding to government consultations.

Quaker Prison Chaplains

In the early days of the Quaker movement many Friends were imprisoned for their beliefs. Ever since, there has been a continuing concern for prisoners and the conditions in prisons, exemplified in the work of Elizabeth Fry, which is continued by Quaker Prison Chaplains today.

More information can be found on the Quaker Prison Chaplains factsheet.

Crime & community justice

Learning from Experience
Personal narratives from the criminal justice system - an invitation to be part of a new QPSW Crime, Community and Justice Group initiative

Quakers, via their work in the criminal justice system promote restorative justice, which aims to keep those who are harmed by crime at the centre of processes and criminal justice systems.

The Crime, Community and Justice Group also responds to government proposals and promotes Quaker values in the wider world.

More information can be found on the Crime, Community and Justice factsheet.

Circles of support and accountability

From April 2008 this project is an independent charity, HTV Circles. Three reports have been published on the project's work, the latest in June 2008.

Other organisations, including the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, are also running Circles of Support and Accountability projects and Quaker Peace & Social Witness has worked with them to set up a new charitable umbrella organisation called Circles UK, launched in 2008.

Circles UK provides all projects with support and help to ensure the work continues to be of high quality. 

More information about the work of QPSW and Circles of Support and Accountability can be found here.