Prisoners' Friends' Association
The Prisoners’ Friends’ Association (PFA) (Chinese: 香港友愛會) is an association located in Tso Kung Square, Tsuen Wan, New Territories, Hong Kong. It is a voluntary organization founded in 1982, and is independent while co-operating with the Hong Kong Police Force and the Correctional Service Department for prisoners' welfare. It arranges two types of services for long-term prisoners in Hong Kong: Prison Visitors and Pen Friends.
Background
Under the suggestion of the Commissioner of the Correctional Service Department (CSD), the association was established in 1982 to organise outside social contacts for prisoners who had had no visitors for more than ten years. The association recruits and vets volunteers to visit such prisoners.[1]
Objectives
- To help the prisoners and their families to cope with imprisonment and to work towards rehabilitation and adjustment to society afterwards; to contribute to a reduction in crime; to support measures to improve prison conditions and the welfare of prisoners and their families; to give the prisoners hope for their future, maintain their dignity, and keep in touch with the world outside, while letting people in the community know and care what happens to the prisoners.[2]
Structure
An independent organisation, the PFA is made up of individuals of varied nationalities and backgrounds who have no history of imprisonment.[2] Members under the age of 21 may serve as "pen friends" but do not ordinarily receive full membership. The PFA does cooperate with the CSD and Police, who determine who may visit the Prisons, but they are run by an elected Executive Committee that is not affiliated with either.
Leadership
Honorary President- Ms Margaret Ng, Chairman, - Jack Fung
Volunteers
Prison Visitor
Prison visitors are aimed at building up a friendship with prisoners. They are required to attend training sessions before entering the prison. After the training sessions, they can register to conduct a prison visit regularly accompanied by a prison officer. They also need to attend seminars given by senior members of the CSD, ex-prisoners and counselors.[3]
Pen friends
Pen friends write to, but do not visit in person, prisoners. The PFA recommends that pen friends mail their correspondents every other week, with appropriately friendly letters sensitive to the realities of their existence.[4]
References
- ↑ Available at http://www.pfa.org.hk/history%201.htm, last accessed February 23, 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.pfa.org.hk/eng/aboutus/objective.htm, last accessed February 23, 2010.
- ↑ http://www.pfa.org.hk/eng/resources/pv1.htm, last accessed February 23, 2010.
- ↑ http://www.pfa.org.hk/eng/resources/pf1.htm, last accessed February 23, 2010.