Since the discovery of abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, Americans have intensely debated the extent to which torture is, or should be, used to gain information from enemy combatants. In what other facilities is physical coercion used, and to what extent? And what is legal under international law?

But Christians must ask questions beyond the legal and constitutional issues. To what extent can Christians accept torture—even as military defense? How does a soldier, made in God's image, protect the human dignity of the inmate, while gaining essential information to protect his fellow citizens? There are no simple answers, but CT has directly addressed those questions in our February 2006 cover story. More articles on Abu Ghraib, prison brutality, and other criminal justice issues are also available below.

NAE Endorses Statement Against Torture
Declaration calls for churches and individuals to act on "non-negotiable" issue.
by Sarah Pulliam | March 16, 2007

5 Reasons Torture is always Wrong
And why there should be no exceptions.
by David P. Gushee | posted 01/27/2006 09:45 a.m.

Front Line Dilemma
Christians in intelligence services are conflicted over the use of torture.
by Tony Carnes | posted 01/30/2006

Silence on Suffering
Where are the voices from the Christian community on cruel and degrading treatment of detainees?
by Gary A. Haugen | posted 10/17/2005

The Evil In Us
Prisoner torture in Iraq exposes the ordinary face of human depravity.
A Christianity Today editorial | posted 06/10/2004

Grave Images
The photos from Abu Ghraib have reopened debate on the power of pictures.
By Ted Olsen | posted 06/21/2004

Weblog: The Religious Side of the Abu Ghraib Scandal
As prisoners forced to renounce faith, guards repudiated theirs voluntarily.
By Ted Olsen | posted 05/24/2004

Weblog: More Christian Organizations Respond to Abu Ghraib Scandal
Several organizations named in Tuesday's Weblog as having not commented on the abuse of Iraqi prisoners have done so in the last few days.
By Ted Olsen (Second item) | posted May 13, 2004

Weblog: Rounding Up the Few Christian Voices on the Iraq Prison Scandal
Sojourners says Rumsfeld should go, World says he should stay, and Christian Peacemaker Teams says there's a bigger story untold.

I Was in Prison and You Abused Me
What would Jesus do at Abu Ghraib?
By Steven Gertz | posted 05/28/2004

New Life in a Culture of Death
Hope for Colombia dwells inside its most lethal killing field—Bellavista Prison.
By Deann Alford | posted Feb. 02, 2004

Violated Felons
Christians help lead federal campaign against prison rape.
Mark Stricherz in Washington | posted Sept. 10, 2003

Weblog: Criminal Justice and Injustice
On issues from Timothy McVeigh's execution to prison rape, Christians are making their voices heard.
Compiled by Ted Olsen | posted April 30, 2001

Setting Captives Free
It takes more than getting a woman inmate out of jail to turn her life around (Jan. 10, 2000)

Prison Ministry in Mozambique
Missionary says women suffer grave injustices.
By Wendy Murray Zoba | Aug. 4, 2000

Prison Rape Is No Joke
As 7-Up pulls offensive advertisement, evangelicals continue to combat prisoner rape.
by Ted Olsen | posted July 09, 2002

Brutality Behind Bars
Women's prisons were hellish places before Elizabeth Fry started working there.
By Danny Day, Christian History,Winter 1997

Doing Time
Do correctional facilities correct anything?
By Nathan Bierma, Books & Culture,January/February 2004

Breaking into Prison
A gospel invasion helps bring peace to one of the nation's most violent penitentiaries.
By Chris Frink | posted May 07, 2004

Controversial Cain
Warden Burl Cain has had a few tangles in the courts himself.
By Chris Frink | posted May 07, 2004

'I Was Looking for Peace and Found it in Christ'
A converted felon in Colombia reflects on life in the guerrilla ranks.
By Deann Alford, Compass Direct | posted Feb. 02, 2004

Suing Success
Prison Fellowship says its Inner Change program is clearly constitutional.
Religion News Service, CT staff reports | posted March 18, 2003

The Legacy of Prisoner 23226
Twenty-six years after leaving prison, Charles Colson has become one of America's most significant social reformers.
By Wendy Murray Zoba | posted July 29, 2001

Watchman on the Walls
Between heaven and earth, and victim and offender, stands Texas death-row chaplain Jim Brazzil
By Virginia Stem Owens | posted May 16, 2001

Prison Alpha Helps Women Recover Their Lost Hopes
Alpha has spread like a crime wave to most of the United Kingdom's 137 prisons, to prisons in 16 foreign countries, and now to inmates in the United States
By Deann Alford | October 4, 1999

Go Directly to Jail
Operation Starting Line is a grand attempt to present the gospel to all U.S. prisoners over a three-year period
A Christianity Today editorial | Sept. 6, 1999

Redeeming the Prisoners
Prison ministers embrace 'restorative justice' methods
By Steve Rabey | March 1, 1999

Let the Prisoners Work
Crime doesn't pay, but prison labor can benefit everyone
A Christianity Today Editorial | Feb. 9, 1998

Unique Prison Program Serves as Boot Camp for Heaven
By Jim Jones | Feb. 9, 1998

Argentina Prison Ward Becomes Model Church
By Ralph D. Tone | Sept. 16, 1996

See also our special section on War in Iraq