Jami’an: Supporting families separated by prison
This resource provides information for families whose loved ones are in prison, on how to navigate the prison system. It provides basic information on how to find out where a loved one is, how to contact them and arrange visits, send money and parcels.
Maslaha, which developed the resource, hopes it will help remove some of the fear and sense of isolation that comes with trying to make sense of the prison system and trying to communicate with it.
This resource has been created at a time when Muslims make up 18% of the prison population (as opposed to 6.5% of the general population) – a record high[1]. This means that more and more families have loved ones in prison.
This situation for families can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed trying to navigate the legal and prison system, especially when also dealing with a loved one not being at home any more. Imprisonment affects individuals, families and whole communities – socially, financially, emotionally, psychologically, and physically.
When individuals are involved with the criminal justice system so are their families and loved ones. Many Muslim families have not known where to ask for help or were reluctant to raise issues.
The resource was developed in consultation with experts including prison chaplains and community Imams. It is designed to ease the pressure and stress, so that families can focus on providing emotional support. The resource is intended to give people confidence to understand and engage with the prison system, especially where there might be a lack of trust.
The resource is grounded in Islam’s approach to justice, which is rooted in understanding the context in which any harm takes place, focusing on the repair of relations without causing more harm.
Jami’an in Arabic translates to ‘all together’ – all together we can support those facing challenges to find a better way to live.
For more information about the resource and to receive hard copies of it, or a translation, email [email protected]
