Religious Volunteer Visitors in the Penal Context of Hong Kong

Abstract

Religious faith plays a crucial role in the life of people in penal custody. Research generally focuses on the impact of religion on inmates’ rehabilitation. Studies on volunteers in prison receive scholarly attention but largely in regard to how they affect inmates. This study focuses on Christian visitors in prison and their motives, goals, and experiences. The study evaluates the responses of 152 Christian volunteer visitors around prisons in Hong Kong. The study shows that majority of them are at a time of their life when they are most strongly occupied by work and familial obligations and yet they take time off to visit people in prison. It offers evidence how visits to those in prison contribute to visitors’ own spiritual learning and to a changed view of those in prison. The findings of the study indicate that volunteers see themselves as active agents who help, teach, and transform.