HL Deb 01 November 2004 vol 666 cc4-5WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What faith-based courses are offered in H M Prisons, giving in each case the prison; the faith; the objectives of the course; the methods of evaluating the achievement of the objective; the number of prisoners who have so far completed the course in 2004; and the alternatives available to prisoners with a conscientious objection to the particular faith concerned. [HL4329]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)

Comprehensive records of faith-based offending-related courses in prisons are not currently held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, Sycamore Tree, a Christian-based course on victim awareness accredited by the Open College Network, is delivered through the chaplaincy in 37 prisons. Two prisons, Swaleside and the Verne, operate Kainos Communities, which are Christian-based and incorporate rehabilitative and therapeutic programmes.

Sycamore Tree is a restorative justice programme developed by Prison Fellowship, a registered charity, to help prisoners to accept responsibility for personal action towards their victims and the community. It is based on Christian values such as truth, integrity and responsibility but does not explicitly promote faith and is open to adherents of any or no faith tradition. The aim of the programme is to change prisoners' behaviour and attitudes. Two types of evaluation are used. CRIME-PICS II is used at the beginning and end of the programme to monitor attitudinal change and prisoners also complete a Prison Fellowship end of programme evaluation form. Prison Fellowship advises that approximately 500 prisoners have attended the programme since 1 April 2004. Alternative victim awareness courses are available at some prisons. Improved information will become available centrally from a database being established under Prison Service Order (PSO) 4350 on effective regime interventions.

Kainos Communities involve prisoners living for between six and 18 months as part of a supportive community with group work, where they can discuss their current and offending-related behaviour and learn to take responsibility for their own actions and deal with conflict without violence, as well as having access to other courses. Kainos accepts applications from any prisoner regardless of race or religion. The objectives are to create a safe living environment where prisoners can improve their social functioning and employability. Data are collected to determine whether a prisoner is making progress or if he is violating community standards and staff complete evaluation reports on each course attended. There have been 52 Kainos completions at Swaleside in 2004 and 40 at the Verne. Kainos at both prisons are seeking validation through their respective area managers under PSO 4350.

The multi-faith chaplaincy teams also run a range of religious education classes and courses.