More than 100 delegates are expected to take part in a day-long think tank in October which will look into alternative methods of handing out justice.

Prison Fellowship Bermuda announced the International Creative Planning Workshop concerning "alternative justice'' will take place on October 29.

Chairman Jack Harris said the meeting's aim was to draw together all of the organisations involved with crime stopping to brainstorm about a collective effort.

"We have been pushing for a rethink on crime,'' Mr. Harris said this week.

"Instead of half a dozen initiatives, we should all come together and come up with ideas and push forward.'' Mr. Harris said his organisation enters the Island's four prisons with Christian teachings and prefers the term restorative justice.

He added: "We are concerned with the spiritual nature of crime rather than punishment.'' Mr. Harris explained that alternatives to imprisonment like financial restitution, community service, electronic monitoring, curfews, and boot camps save taxpayers money.

"In theory, alternative or restorative justice costs about one fifth of incarceration,'' Mr. Harris added.

It also keeps non-violent criminals from "crime college'' -- prison -- where they are initiated into drugs and violent crimes.

He said throughout most of history, an offender paid back the victim of a crime rather than being sentenced to the recent invention of prison.

"Now you offend against the state,'' he added.

The Workshop will discuss whether incarceration reduces crime, alternative programmes to combat recidivism, victim restitution and reconciliation, and new alternative justice initiatives.

Prison Fellowship has done all of the preliminary sponsorship through its own fundraising and is now looking for a major sponsor.

"If we do not, we will have to go it alone,'' Mr. Harris said.

Delegates are expected from the US, Canada, Bahamas, Barbados and the Cayman Islands as well as local representatives from prisons, National Drug Commission, Probation Services, Police, and drug counselling services.

Delegates will receive invitations within the next two weeks.

A report will be prepared for the 85 nation Prison Fellowship International as will the respective governments of the delegates.

Prison Fellowship hopes the workshop will become a permanent resource in the fight against crime and drugs.

ALTERNATIVES -- Prison Fellowship chairman Jack Harris hopes a planned conference will come up with new strategies for reducing crime.

Graphic file name: JAKK