An imam in the Chaplaincy Service, Mohamed El Shakarwy, won the top justice award for his work to reduce re-offending. He was awarded the Justice Shield Award for 2007 for a course he devised at The Mount Prison in Hertfordshire which encourages offenders to accept the damage done to victims of their crimes, and to work towards reconciliation with their own families. He received the award from Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith.
The Justice Shield recognises the most outstanding contribution to England and Wales by Criminal Justice System staff. The Shield is the top award at the national Justice Awards which boasts a top level judging panel including the Home Secretary, the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney General.
Dr El Sharkawy said: "It's all too much for me! I think everyone at the prison will value this and I promise this award will encourage me to do even more. The course has been built on the three major faiths and this has helped me to attract prisoners and help them to become better people."
The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland, who was on the judging panel, said: "I offer my congratulations and thanks to Dr El Sharkawy for the inspiration and encouragement he has shown to make offenders aware of the damage they have caused, turn them away from crime and seek support and reconciliation from their often estranged families. This is a fine example of the Prison Chaplaincy seeking real contrition from inmates and giving them a chance to move on beyond crime, regardless of what faith they may or may not have."
On joining HMP The Mount in 2002, El Shakarwy saw that some prisoners felt uncomfortable about attending the Bible-based offending behaviour course, at that time the only one available at the establishment.
Using his knowledge of Islamic, Christian and Jewish traditions through his theological studies, El Shakarwy set about developing an offending behaviour programme which was appropriate to people of all faiths, and for those who had none. Focussing on the story of Joseph, the course covers issues surrounding imprisonment, release, forgiveness from family and reconciliation.
The course also has a strong Restorative Justice element, and Imam El Shakarwy has developed this area further, going out with offenders to visit victims' families to effect reconciliation and closure.
El Shakarwy has developed the course in his own time, using his own money for materials, and accrediting the course through the Open College Network. It has proved a massive success within the prison, with the course built in to the sentence plans of many of the prisoners. Over 330 prisoners have graduated from the course, and El Shakarwy is presently training staff to teach it in seven other prisons.
Source: Muslim News (English)
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