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Restoring Lives Behind Walls - A Visit to the Open-Air Prison

By Br. Maria Nithin, OFM

Alongside Br. Kishore Joseph, I recently visited the Open-Air Prison in Devanahalli, Bengaluru—a quiet witness to the power of restorative justice and human dignity. Unlike traditional prisons with high walls and locked cells, this space breathes trust, responsibility, and the gentle hope of transformation. It is currently the only such prison in Karnataka, though similar centers are envisioned elsewhere in the state. Reserved for long-term convicts who have shown genuine change, this unique prison allows inmates to live and work in freedom within the compound. They are trained in agriculture, animal husbandry, electrical work, and other life-giving skills—simple, honest labors that echo the spirit of Francis, who found God in the work of his hands and the soil beneath his feet. Those who complete their sentences may even receive start-up support to begin anew. Our conversations with inmates were conducted with care and dignity—avoiding personal wounds yet sensing the deep undercurrent of hope and silent resilience. This visit was a call to remember that rehabilitation is not merely a policy—it is a Gospel path. As Franciscans, we believe that mercy transforms and that every person, no matter how broken, carries within a spark of goodness waiting to be rekindled. When correction is guided by compassion, prisons can become places of healing, reconciliation, and renewal. May such initiatives multiply, and may our hearts always remain open to be instruments of peace, healing, and brotherhood among all, especially the forgotten.

 

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