The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(C043)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the General Convention create a task force on the Church's role in the reform of our nation's criminal justice system, in order to study the problems inherent in it, and to the end that concrete proposals may result, said task force to be authorized and directed to co-ordinate its study and proposals with the National Interreligious Task Force on Criminal Justice; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request each Diocese of the Church that it form a committee on criminal justice, working under the guidance of the Bishop, and including in its membership representatives from the clergy and the laity, and especially including prisoners, professionals, and other persons involved in the criminal justice system; such committee

1. To work in conjunction with local and national resources;
2. To report its findings to the Bishop, to be by him reported to the 1988 General Convention;
3. To address the issues of prevention, the justice process, treatment versus punishment, alternatives to incarceration, and the Church's relationship to all persons affected by criminal behavior.
   

Proposed Committee Amendment:

In the first Resolved clause:

add the words "charge the Executive Council to" after the words "General Convention;"

delete everything following the words "inherent in it."

Strike the second Resolved clause and in its place add the following:

Resolved, That this criminal justice task force, so far as possible, include in its membership representatives from the clergy, laity, judiciary, former prisoners, victims of crime and their families, professionals, and other persons involved in the criminal justice system; and be it further

Resolved, That this criminal justice task force survey the work already being done by the Episcopal Church in the various dioceses and congregations and by other ecumenical and secular bodies, and report the results of their survey and recommendations for future action to the 69th General Convention.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #119)

House of Deputies

The Committee on National and International Affairs [sic] presented its Report #47 on C043 Substitute (Reform Criminal Justice System) and moved concurrence with HB Message #181.

Motion carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #238)