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Cadet Peter Kim shares from his Field Experience where he works in the courts and the Winnipeg Remand Centre.

Have you ever wondered what happens to people who go to prison? Have you ever thought of what happens to them while they await their day in court? Have you ever wondered who visits them?

My Field placement is at the courts and the prisons. I have been able to experience a part of The Salvation Army’s ministry with those in the justice system. I have been able to not only interact with those at court but also to visit those in prison. It has been an eye opening experience. There are many people involved in the justice system crown lawyers, defense lawyers, judges, magistrates, sheriffs, prison guards, law clerks, Aboriginal court workers, paralegals, Legal Aid, victims, offenders, and their friends and family. There are still many more that are a part of this such as the community, businesses, government, and the faith community.

When you think of someone breaking the law what image comes to your mind? Think about it. I would say that most people would think about “bad people.” You might think of murders, rapist, thieves, and gang members. When I look at the people coming into the courts I see normal people just like you and I. People who have made mistakes that they are now facing the consequence for are a part of this system. Many others are affected by their decisions. If we look at them as criminals then we do an injustice. If we see them as a part of our community then we are able to move in the direction of restorative justice.

I recently did a bible study at the Remand Centre, which is a prison that holds people in custody until they have an opportunity to present their case before the courts. Sometimes it takes days, weeks, and months to get their day in court. Sometimes it could be years before anything happens. So what do they do in the mean time? Nobody likes to be in prison. There was a survey done asking people what was their least favourite place to be and the top answer was prison. Ironically, the second least favourite place was church. Many people in prison think only of freedom. They want to be free and not captive. This runs at the heart of the issue.

In Luke 4:14-21 we find Jesus sharing his first sermon in the synagogue. It says,
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Is this not our mission too? We are to preach the good news. Yes, to the poor. We are to proclaim freedom. Yes, to the prisoners. We are to proclaim recovery of sight. Yes, to the blind. We are to release the oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.
While I was in the prison I was able to share with them a DVD series called “H2O: A journey of faith.” I explained to them that this was a journey of faith that we will all be going on together. I did not see my role as their saviour but as a fellow brother who would walk the journey of faith with them. I wanted to share Jesus but in a way that would follow what Jesus did. I would walk with them. My approach was not telling them that they were sinners and that they were going to go to hell. The group was made up of people with transgender and mental health concerns. They already told me that they all went to church at one point in their life. They knew the gospel message of Jesus Christ but they need to see that Jesus was real.

I listened to their stories and their experiences with the church and asked them if they would be willing to take a journey of faith with me. This approach worked. I had eight people the first time and then ten the next. They were telling others about this new bible study. The guard told me afterwards that this was the most positive reaction he has ever seen with inmates. I simply wanted to preach the good news. To proclaim freedom to the prisoners, recovery of sight to the blind, release to the captives and the favourable year of the Lord. The good news is that there Jesus came for us all, especially the poor, the blind, the imprisoned, and the captives. The good news is that there is freedom to be had for those who are in jail. There is hope in the midst of hopelessness. There is mercy and love for all who will accept it. William Booth said that “while people go in and out, in and out of prison. I’ll fight!” I truly understand now what he meant by this. The people who are in prison are the ones whom Jesus loves and whom we must visit and love.