It is a fact universally acknowledged that during the holiday season the happy feel happier, everybody is nicer, and love abounds, but on the same note, the sad feel sadder and the lonely feel lonelier.

Spending Christmas away from family and friends must be difficult even for the most hardened of criminals. In fact, for incarcerated prisoners and their families, this is probably the worse time of the year.

Alison Bezzina spoke to Roberta Holland, a Forensic Psychologist at the Corradino Correctional Facility about the festive feeling behind bars.

'Clearly, during this time of the year it is a hard time for anyone to be locked up away from loved ones. Hence, one cannot say that the festive happy season outside the prison walls is reflected behind bars. On the contrary, it can get quite lonely for some' says Ms.Holland.

'The misfortune of it all is that whilst this is part of the price one pays in prison, the families and relatives of inmates are also denied from being with their loved ones'. Nevertheless, prisoners are not denied the right to feel festive during this time of year. The prison authorities acknowledge the difficult period and attempt to organise activities relevant to the Christmas theme,' adds Ms. Holland

The prison staff together with the help of various voluntary organisations, organise some different activities to create a Christmas feeling even for prisoners.

  • As from nine days before, a Christmas thought is included during the daily mass
  • Around Christmas week, prisoners are shown a film relating to the story of Jesus
  • A Christmas music concert and reception are organised on the day
  • A meeting with seminaries is held with the aim of discussing the meaning behind Christmas
  • A special Christmas and New Year's Day mass is held. The Christmas day mass includes the ‘priedka tat-tifel'
  • The archbishop visits the prisoners on Boxing Day
  • The YOURS (Young Offender Unit Rehabilitation Services), organises other special activities to cater specifically for this vulnerable group of residents.
  • Among the many spiritual activities, the support group Mid-Dlam Ghad-Dawl organises a party for the residents in this section.
  • Another party is organised by the YOURS staff.
  • The menu on Christmas and New Year's Day is also special for all residents
  • An additional half an hour is added to the normal visiting hours in order to allow more time and encourage more families and friends to visit their loved ones at this time of year.
  • YOURS have also partnered with ITS and together with a few residents have helped in raising money for L-Istrina by preparing over 600 mince pies.
  • On the 29th Dec. inmates are served a special meal and are not locked up between 12.30pm and 200pm in order to be able to contact their next of kin for a longer period on the telephone.
  • Most of the time on such occasions the inmates, on their own initiative, collect money for a charity of their choice.

‘Despite all these efforts, this is a time for family memories and Christmas exaggerates feelings and all that one is missing behind bars' explains Ms. Holland.

‘We encourage families and friends to keep in touch with those serving a sentence. The residents' close ties with the outside, support and help them a lot in their rehabilitation. It is one thing thats encourages them to be better people,' concludes Ms. Holland

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