Useful links – Prisoners Overseas

11 Sep 2008

NB: The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference is not responsible for the content of external websites and the views of the organisations listed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. 

Department of Foreign Affairs http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=277

 

Contains information on what to do if you are arrested or imprisoned abroad.

 

Prisoners Abroad is the only UK charity providing information, advice and support to Britons detained overseas, their family and friends, and to released prisoners trying to re-establish themselves in society. It also contains country specific information about prison conditions and criminal justice systems around the world.

 

Prisoners’ Families Infoline www.pfi.ie

 

The Prisoners’ Families Infoline is a free and confidential telephone helpline for anyone who is affected by the imprisonment of a close family member or friend. They provide information, non-judgemental support and a listening ear.

 

Fair Trials International http://www.fairtrials.net

 

Fair Trials International (FTI) works for fair trials according to international standards of justice and defends the rights of those facing charges in a country other than their own. FTI pursues its mission by providing individual legal assistance through its expert casework practice.

 

Prison Reform Trust http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/

 

The Prison Reform Trust is an independent charity which researches prison regimes, monitors prison conditions, provides advice and information to prisoners and their families about the prison system and educates the public about penal issues. The PRT also campaigns for more constructive prison regimes and a greater use of community penalties.

 

Bedford Row http://www.bedfordrow.ie/

 

The Bedford Row Family Project in Limerick seeks to facilitate the families of prisoners, as a group sharing common interests, to identify the needs and issues which are of importance to them, to develop strategies to address those issues and needs, to carry those strategies through to implementation and to monitor and evaluate progress.

 

Action for Prisoners’ Families http://www.prisonersfamilies.org.uk/

 

Action for Prisoners’ Families (APF), is a UK organisation which was established in 1990 to act as the voice for, and to support the development of organisations working with families of prisoners.

 

Prisoners’ Families Helpline Tel: 0808 808 2003

 

The Prisoners’ Families Helpline is a free and confidential service for anyone who is affected by the imprisonment of a close family member or friend. It gives up-to-date information and guidance about prisons in England and Wales. It also provides links with different services and local support groups in your area. Prisoners’ Families Helpline also offers connections to a translation service for non-English speakers.

 

Citizens Information http://www.citizensinformation.ie

 

National agency responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice and advocacy to the public on the broad range of social and civil services.

 

Information on Community Welfare Services.

 

The Linkage Programme http://www.bitc.ie/

 

The Linkage Programme is a joint project between Business in the Community and the Probation and Welfare Service. The project’s objective is to create mutually beneficial links between employers and ex-offenders.Linkage reflects Business in the Community’s ongoing commitment to creating opportunities for work experience and job placement for former prisoners. These opportunities include on the job training and where possible, apprenticeships for ex-offenders. This provides benefit both to employers and to the wider community. Linkage has Training and Employment officers located in fifteen Probation and Welfare Service offices across the country.

PACE www.paceorganisation.ie

 

PACE is a community based voluntary agency that works with people that have experienced periods of imprisonment. PACE currently has three projects, transitional housing, training for employment and horticulture.

Homeless Agency http://www.homelessagency.ie/about_us/index.html

 

The Homeless Agency is responsible for the management and coordination of services to people who are homeless in the Dublin area.

Coalition of Irish Immigration Centres http://www.ciic-usa.org/

 

A national umbrella group for all of the Irish Immigration Centres in the USA.