We have a concern, based partly on Friends' three-hundred-year history of imprisonment for conscience's sake, for the humane treatment of those held in prison. There are many ways to help those convicted of a crime, as well as their victims, to rethink and remake their lives, and it is important in doing so that we avoid activities that support the destructiveness of the prison system. Many Friends encourage and support meetings for worship among prisoners, teach prisoners and staff, work with and counsel lawyers and offenders, and help released prisoners to find work and to build new lives.

While we recognize a need to restrain those whose dangerous behavior is a threat, that restraint and any help offered must reflect our concern for that of God in everyone. The prejudice, dishonesty, and racism prevalent in society frequently lead to unfair and unjust sentences and to brutality in the handling of prisoners. Improvement in the parole system and the reduction of pretrial time are greatly needed.

We have consistently opposed capital punishment. Each person is uniquely valuable and divine, and none is totally beyond redemption. Capital punishment rejects the message of forgiveness. In some cases, it legally destroys innocent persons, and in all cases it degrades the humanity of the executioners and of the society that endorses the act.

POVERTY AND STEWARDSHIP

Jesus said, if you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.

-- Matthew 19.21 (JB)

Those of us fortunate in worldly goods need to be aware of the suffering that poverty imposes on much of humanity. All that we have, spiritual or material, belongs to God and should be used in God's service.

Hundreds of millions of people live in privation hard to imagine here in America. As we seek social justice, we find that physical need is often the root of lawlessness, alienation, oppression, and prejudice.

We have seen that peace stands on a precarious footing so long as there is unrelieved poverty and subjection. Subjection, poverty, injustice, and war are closely allied. This situation demands sweeping political and economic changes; and we are convinced that the hope of freedom does not lie in violence, which is at its root immoral, but in such changes as may be brought about by fellowship and mutual service.

-- London Yearly Meeting Epistle, 1937