When I was in prison you visited me

On Wednesday 21st May, HMP Altcourse welcomed us into the prison to explore the challenging concept of reform. It was an incredibly interesting day for our three sixth form students who reflected on why people commit crimes, how they deal with their sentencing, who is affected by the crime and sentencing and how faith can play a part in their rehabilitation. We met teams representing all the six recognised world religions in the UK today. It is shocking how many released prisoners reoffend for the security of prison life, that becomes part of their identity. We heard stories from prisoners who turned their lives around when the necessary support was in place, often led by a faith conversion, or by simply being offered dignity and kindness.

It is a humbling experience to experience prison life, especially knowing that many of our students and staff have been affected by crimes or by family members completing a sentence. As a Catholic college we often use the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats from the Gospel of Matthew to inspire us, ‘when I was in prison, you visited me’, this can act as a metaphor to visit prisons and understand more of the story from the prisoner’s perspective which isn’t always heard or acknowledged.

Matthew 25:36

He teaches that when we care for those who are suffering, we are directly serving Him.
By visiting the incarcerated, we are fulfilling a crucial aspect of our Christian duty and extending the love of Christ to those who desperately need it.