Prison Chaplain - Role in Ministry

The Chaplain provides a vital part of the wholemay involve hardship cases, illness, legal and
process within the law enforcement community.financial needs, or the death of an inmate.
The primary goal of the prison Chaplain is toCounseling Prisoners will take on many facets. It is
provide Pastoral care to the inmate. The Chaplaintherefore important that the prison chaplain have
becomes pastor to the inmates as well as theiran understanding of the inmates, themselves as
teacher in spiritual matters.well as their felt needs.
This important aspect incorporates areas of1. Attending Court hearings and trials
spiritual, moral and emotional development for the2. Conferring and consulting with prison officials
incarcerated.3. Assisting prisoners find jobs, housing, and
Achievement in these areas will help to insure thecommunity support upon release
future success of offender as a productiveThe Chaplain may be asked to provide these
member of the community at large. The Chaplainsame services to, prison staff, public officials, and
must integrate these tools for change into theothers within the community. He may be asked
programs inaugurated. He will provideto work with the local church to provide ministry
comprehensive services to all inmates in thesupport through prayer, volunteers and finances.
various facilities assigned to him within itsThe Chaplain often becomes a Public Relations
parameters of securityRepresentative to the community in behalf of the
In the capacity of pastor the Chaplain will provideprisono To Coordinate Volunteer Services
and often conductThe religious volunteer becomes an extension of
Chapel Worship services for the inmates.the chaplain in ministering to the needs of the
Depending on the number of Chaplains at a facilityinmate. This mission, like that of the church
this will mean providing services for all faiths.includes regeneration, spiritual healing and
The Chaplain is also responsible to provide religiousdevelopment. Volunteers need to be integrated
Instruction, for the inmates. This may be doneinto the total objective of religious programming
through regular Bible Studies, or doctrinal classes.of the institution and not just a patchwork of
This is sometimes accomplished through organizedsuperimposed programs to fill program needs or
discipleship groups among the inmates themselves.slots and keep inmates occupied. Training phases
The role of pastor often is extended to familiesare usually sequential and required. Avoid conflicts
of inmates and prison staff. This may involvewith training phases and training objectives,
counseling, and instruction in moral and spiritualscheduled. Recognize the philosophy of the
development that will establish an environment forchaplain training staff
rebuilding the family upon release of the prisoner.In order to be more effective in ministering to
There will be time when the Chaplain is called onthe prison community we should expand our
to contactfriends or relatives. These incidentsunderstanding of the correctional process.