Bereavement behind bars: Discrimination and the non-religious prisoner

Hunt, Katie, Barbara May (2017) Bereavement behind bars: Discrimination and the non-religious prisoner. Law, Human Rights and Religion – Flashpoints, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom. 11 Dec 2017.

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Other)

Abstract

How effectively does the prison service meets its public sector equality duty in its treatment of non-religious offenders? Prisoners suffer a higher rate of bereavement, and the incarceration experience complicates the grief process at every stage. Unresolved or disenfranchised grief can lead to mental health problems and possible reoffending. Unfortunately, little bereavement support is available to offenders, and typically the main (or only) source of pastoral care is the prison chaplaincy. While chaplaincies aim to serve “prisoners of all faiths and none”, this facility is not appropriate for everyone. Evidence suggests that many non-faith offenders feel uncomfortable engaging with religious services and so may not receive the support that they need. A lack of secular alternatives means that these inmates are often left to grieve alone and may experience poorer outcomes. Informed by the Equality Act 2010 and recent Supreme Court case law, this paper asks whether these differences in access and opportunity constitute unlawful discrimination - direct or indirect - against non-religious prisoners.

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