The concerns of the American Friends Service Committee regarding jails, prisons, prisoners, ex-convicts and their families are a direct outgrowth of the history of the Religious Society of Friends. Du ring the early years of the Society many members were imprisoned as a result of their convictions, and in recent years staff members and supporters of the AFSC have again gone to jail or prison because of involvement in peace and freedom concerns. Since 1947 the AFSC has worked in the field of pre- and post-release problems through halfway houses, prison visitation and, more recent! y, pretrial justice programs.