The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(D010)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 71st General Convention of the Episcopal Church join other religious bodies and human rights groups in urging the U.S. governmental agencies, such as the federal and state agencies on prisons to stop further construction and completion of what is commonly known as Maximum Control Unit prisons and begin to eliminate such prisons already existing or under construction, such as at Marion, Illinois, and Florence, Colorado; and be it further

Resolved, That U.S. government bodies be urged to begin observing the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners out of respect for international concern for human rights; and be it further

Resolved, That instead of wasting billions of dollars for construction and maintenance of what have come to be known as "maxi-maxi" prisons that the resources be used for rehabilitation, education, housing, health care, productive employment and other basic human needs, particularly of the poor and many people of color; and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church be asked to communicate the Church's hope for a moratorium on prison construction and other related issues as outlined above to the President of the United States and the Congress; and be it further

Resolved, That the connection between racism and imprisoning a disproportionate number of the poor and the people of color be acknowledged and programs and projects be promoted in the church toward eliminating such inequality in U.S. society.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 71st General Convention of the Episcopal Church join other religious bodies and human rights groups in urging the U.S. governmental agencies, such as the federal and state agencies on prisons to stop further construction and completion of what is commonly known as Maximum Control Unit prisons and begin to eliminate such prisons already existing or under construction, such as at Marion, Illinois, and Florence, Colorado; and be it further

Resolved, That U.S. government al bodies agencies be urged to begin observing observe the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners out of respect for international concern for human rights; and be it further

Resolved, That instead of wasting billions of dollars for construction and maintenance of what have come to be known as "maxi-maxi" prisons that the resources be allocated used for rehabilitation, education, housing, health care, productive employment and other basic human needs, for those imprisoned by such agencies, particularly of the poor and many people of color; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the General Convention be requested Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church be asked to communicate the Church's hope for a moratorium on maximum control prison construction and other related issues as outlined above to the President of the United States and the Congress ; and be it further

Resolved, That the connection between racism and imprisoning a disproportionate number of the poor and the people of color be acknowledged and programs and projects be promoted in the church toward eliminating such inequality in U.S. society.

Debate followed on D010.

The question was called to terminate debate on D010.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on D010 as amended.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #90)