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Prison reformers are often people who have been inspired by their religious beliefs to campaign for change. There are some Jewish organisations which aim to reform prison systems. Uri L’Tzedek is an example of one of these organisations. Their vision is to create social justice which is guided by the values in the Torah.

Prison chaplains

Prison chaplains are people from the religious community, such as a rabbi, who visit prisons in order to provide a pastoral role for any Jewish prisoners who would like it.

Prison chaplains might:

• provide a counselling service for the inmate
• talk to the prisoner if they are experiencing difficulties or missing their families
• pray with the inmate, as they are not able to attend their usual public worship meetings
• help the inmate to see a way out of the criminal life and reform themselves
• help the prisoner find religion again

There are many Jewish chaplaincy services which dedicate their time to Jewish prisoners across the country, eg the Jewish Prison Chaplaincy Service, which was founded by Reverend Michael Binstock, a rabbi who has worked with Jewish prisoners since 1969.