David Major, Director of the
Prison Chaplaincy Service.
Over the Christmas period, Corrections works especially closely with prisoner support groups such as the Prison Chaplaincy Service.
As Prison Chaplaincy Service Director David Major says, it’s a time of heightened feelings for prisoners, and while Corrections officers must keep order, both staff and chaplains try to make the day as normal and pleasant as possible.
“The prison chaplains are part of a team involving Corrections staff, community groups and the families and support people of prisoners. We work for the positive benefit of everyone involved.”
David says that trying to normalise Christmas Day for prisoners is a humane act that benefits a far wider group than just prisoners and prison staff.
“On Christmas morning thousands of children wake up knowing mum or dad is in prison, thousands of parents wake up knowing their son or daughter is in prison.
“Prisoners return to the outside world eventually, so in the end as normal a day as possible is in the interests of the prisoners’ children, parents and the whole community,” he says.
David says prison chaplains lead services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for prisoners to attend. They also work closely with community groups to co-ordinate initiatives such as carol singers coming into prisons, or the Angel Tree Programme (see story "Angel Tree Presents for prisoners' children") to provide Christmas presents to the children of prisoners.
“Working alongside Corrections officers, the chaplains also make themselves available to any prisoners who want to talk,” he says.
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ISSN 1178-8453