Legal and Criminal Justice

Human Trafficking

In April 2006 the Mission and Public Affairs Council submitted a response to Home Office proposals for a UK action plan designed to tackle the issue. The response and its accompanying press release can be read here.

Obscenity/Pornography

In November 1971 the General Synod commended to diocesan and deanery synods for discussion the report of the Board for Social Responsibility, Obscene Publications: Law and Practice and the following motion was carried:

'That this Synod affirms its belief in the principle of control of obscene publications, obscenity on the stage or in films by the law of the land.'

In July 1997 the General Synod debated a Private Members Motion on Standards of Morality and Decency in the Media. The text of the motion carried was as follows:

'That this Synod, recognising the significant role played by press, radio and television in shaping opinions and values in today's society:

1. record its appreciation for the many occasions when the media have been used positively to educate, entertain and alert the public to abuses of power and to engender active compassion in times of great human tragedy;
2. note with concern the possibilities for lower standards as new technology and other factors are likely to create greatly increased output and competition;
3. express its alarm and dismay at the number of instances when blasphemy, violence, bad language, casual sex and the invasion of privacy are presented as entertainment - believing this to have an eroding effect upon public standards of morality; and
4. seek assurance from Her Majesty's Government that such matters are being constantly monitored with a view to possible legislation should self-regulation within the media provide ineffective.'

Prostitution

In January 2005 the Church of England responded to a Home Office Consultation on Prostitution. The text of the press release and the submission can be accessed here.

Religious Offences

In 2002 the Archbishops Council published a submission to the House of Lords Select Committee on Religious Offences which states its approach to the issue.

Capital Punishment

In July 1983 the General Synod debated capital punishment and the following motion was carried:

'That this Synod would deplore the reintroduction of capital punishment into the United Kingdom sentencing policy.'

This subject has not been debated by Synod since 1983.

Criminal Justice

In February 2007 the Synod debated the report – Taking Responsibility for Crime – which considered major challenges to the criminal justice system as a result of prison overcrowding and changes in the system of supervising offenders with the amalgamation of the prison and probation services. The debate took place at a time of considerable public anxiety about dangerous offenders and anti-social behaviour. It highlighted opportunities for Christian service and initiatives in the criminal justice system and in working with offenders in the community.

The Board for Social Responsibility also published  Private Sector Involvement in Prisons (available from Church House Publishing) in 1996 and Young People and Crime. In November 1999 the Board published  Prisons: A Study in Vulnerability (also available from Church House Publishing). This was debated in General Synod the same month. At the end of the debate it was resolved:

That this Synod

1. welcomes Her Majesty's Government's commitment to the development of restorative justice programmes which enshrine the biblical principles of holding offenders responsible for their crimes, addressing the needs of victims, and enhancing the protection of the public.
2. welcome efforts to prevent 15 and 16 year olds being remanded into prison custody by offering constructive alternatives in the community.
3. note the continuing public concern about the effect of crime in our communities;
4. record its unease at the disproportionate number of black offenders in our prisons, and welcome initiatives to eradicate racism throughout the judicial and penal system;
5. request Her Majesty's Government to reassess the situation whereby mentally ill people are often held in prison when they would be better treated in a secure hospital environment;
6. recognise the need to reintegrate offenders into the community through prison and community based programmes and in partnership with employment and accommodation schemes;
7. affirm the role of prison staff, chaplains, Boards of Visitors and volunteers and the part they play in supporting the families of people in prison; and
8. urge dioceses, deaneries and parishes to promote the study of Prisons: A Study in Vulnerability (GS Misc 557) through criminal justice groups and other means.

Restorative Justice

In July 2004, General Synod debated a report  Rethinking Sentencing on Restorative Justice and the future of sentencing policy. A copy of the motion can be viewed here.

The Church of England have taken an active part in responding to the Government's reform of the criminal justice system in the last four years. They engage in regular dialogue with officials and ministers from the Home Office and submitted responses on the following issues:

The Sexual Offences review (Setting the Boundaries) in February 2001

The Social Exclusion Unit's review of reoffending by ex-prisoners in June 2001

The review of Sentencing (Making Punishments Work) in October 2001

The  review of the Criminal Courts by Lord Justice Auld in January 2002

The response to the White Paper Respect and Responsibility: Taking A Stand Against Anti Social Behaviour in June 2003

The review of the future of the correctional services Reducing Crime, Changing Lives in February 2004 (Managing Offenders).

At the same the Church of England is a full member of the Churches' Criminal Justice Forum (CCJF). CCJF makes its own submissions to Government and also engages in work on the resettlement of prisoners, women's prisons and visiting. It also has a Criminal Justice and a Policy Officer who engage in educational work with church congregations.

Other websites which are useful are:

UK Criminal Justice Weblog for up to date press reports on criminal justice

The Prison Reform Trust

The Howard League for Penal Reform

Smart Justice - Unlocking Solutions to Crime

Restorative Justice

Rethinking Crime and Punishment

The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT)

The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies

Volunteering

A guide to volunteering in the criminal justice system (What Can I Do) has been produced by PACT, and funded by Rethinking Crime and Punishment for the Churches' Criminal Justice Forum.

Sex Offenders

A paper was issued by the Board for Social Responsibility in 1999 entitled Meeting the Challenge: How Churches Should Respond to Sex Offenders. Further work has been done since then by the Society of Friends with their joint programme developed with the Home Office  Circles of Support and Accountability. This works with sex offenders in an attempt to prevent further offending This and other projects are described in the What Can I Do? guide.