In Great Britain, UK, His Majesty’s Prison collaborated with a church to create a new rehabilitative initiative that allows incarcerated male and female residents to debate, according to BVI News.com.
The debate teams faced off at the first coed debate competition. Those in attendance have to witness incarcerated residents discuss essential topics, like “Why the numbers of recidivism is so high?” They also touched on the subject of “What prisons can do to lower prison populations?”
“To break this cycle, we must invest in rehabilitative measures within our prison service,” said Health Minister Vincent Wheatley. “Providing inmates with the tools and support needed for successful reintegration into society, ensuring that the path to redemption is paved with genuine opportunities for change and growth.”
Reverend Dr. Michael Turnbull, who not only moderated but also gracefully gifted five laptops on behalf of cane Garden Bay Baptist Church, moderated the special event. Reverend Turnbull also shed light on the support that the community has for the rehabilitation of those who are incarcerated, said the article.
A $500 prize was given to the female debate team, who won the debate. The men’s debate team was also awarded a $250 prize. Expectations are that the event would become a yearly occurrence.
The idea to incorporate these debates is to allow incarcerated people to help shape the future of rehabilitation. This vision is within the prison’s three-year strategic plan, noted the article.
The prison’s superintendent Jay Kendall praised the prison’s rehabilitation team for their work in the institution’s rehabilitative process.
Wheatley added that the prison’s commitment shows that for successful reintegration back into society upon rehabilitation requires engaging with inmates on these strategies.
The collaboration between His Majesty’s prison and New Life Baptist Church marks a momentous step in the rehabilitative initiative for the institution, said the article.
