This paper addresses the work of the chaplain in the prison setting in restorative justice and reintegration for the offender/prisoner prior to release.

1. Week 8 Exercise 7
Research Project
Clenistine Fortune
May 13, 2017
The Work of Chaplaincy in a Prison Setting
The topicof my discussionlooksatthe role of a chaplaininthe prisonsetting,itschallengesandhope
for restorative justice. Correctional Chaplainsprovide pastoral care tothose whoare disconnectedfrom
the general communitybycertaincircumstances,tothose whoare imprisoned,the chaplain provide
people livingbehindbarsreligiousservices,bible studies,one-on-one counselingandindividual crises
intervention.
However,above all,perhapsthe mostrigoroustaskof the prisonchaplain isto assistwiththe process
to helpinmatesprepare toreintegratebackintosociety. Firstly,letuslookatthe CurriculumVitae of a
typical prisoner.
Curriculum Vitae of a Prisoner
Life Experiences
- Sufferedneglectfromalcoholic/drugaddict//workaholicparents
- Suffereddomesticviolence,physical,mental andsexualabuse
- Sufferedalackof stable bondingwithanyonedue toseriesof non-familycarers
- Sufferedaconstantmovingandshiftingplace of abode
- Sufferedfromacute lonelinessandalackof caring friends
- Sufferedfromdrugandor alcohol dependency
- Sufferedfromdepressionorothermental illness
- Sufferedfrompoorliteracyskillsandeducation
- Sufferedfromalackof financial managementandlivingskills
- Sufferedfromunemployment

2. Personal Achievements
- Highlevelsof insecurityandfear
- Highlevelsof mistrustof bothself andothers
- Highlevelsof lowself-esteem
- Highlevelsof nomotivation,or“whocares”attitude
- Highlevelsof guilt
- Highlevelsof feelinghelpless,(victimology )”syndrome,”Ican’t
- Highlevelsof feelingpowerless
- Highlevelsof self- hatredanddisgust
- Highlevelsof self- mutilation
- Highlevelsof hatredforothers
- Highlevelsof feelinghopeless
- Highlevelsof unmetneeds
- Highlevelsof anxiety
- Highlevelsof shame
- Highlevelsof rage andanger
Once the chaplainbecomesinvolvedinthe preleaseprocess,he takes the necessarystepsin
followingprocedure inhopesthatthe offender/prisonerrelease will be successful. Lookingbackonthe
CurriculumVitae,the thingslistedonitneedscareful considerationandattention if the inmatesrelease
isgoingto be successful. Chaplains alonecannotdothe workof Restorative Justice,itindeedtake the
entire “village’tohelpthose whosocietydeemsasthe “leastof these.”

3. Many a time whenex-prisonerswhohave inadequate copingskills,seektogoback to prisonbecause
Theirlife inthe communityisfraughtwithunbearableanxietiestoodifficultforthemtohandle.
Therefore, younowsee,the processof restorativejusticeisacomprehensive taskforanyone personto
take on and especiallyforthe chaplain. Fromthe chaplain’sperspective,restorative justice isabout
workingtowardsmendingandinvolvesathree-foldprocess:
- A riftwithinoffenders/prisoners
- A riftbetweenoffenders/prisonersandthe offendedcommunity
- A riftbetweenprisoners/offendersandtheirfamilies
- In religiousterms,the processof mendingthisthree-foldriftisaboutreconciliation.
Withthisin mind,letus lookat the problematicissuesfacingchaplainsinaprisonsetting. In
contemplatingthe CV,itleavesone toquestionif itisindeedpossible tobringaboutthe possibilitiesof
restorative justice. Forrestorative justice tooccureffectively,first the mendingorhealinghastotake
place. Theyare inter-relatedandinterdependent. From a chaplaincyperspective, restorativejusticeis
the practical applicationforthe spiritualfoundationof all majorFaithtraditionsbythe verynature of
the functionof religion. The term “religion”isderivedfromthe Latinword‘religion’whichmeans‘to
bindback together’,andbefore aprisoner/offenderreintegratesbackintosociety,he orshe hasto be
“boundback together.”
Ultimately,forthistransformationtooccur,the experience of the Mercyof God hasto take place in
the mendingprocess. Exactlyhowdochaplainshelpprisonersinbuildingpositive relationships?
Chaplainsmust,intermsof mending the riftswithinprisoners:
- Be a confidential andnon-judgmental listenertoprisoners,believinginthemasvaluable
humanbeingsdeservingof ourutmostrespectanddignity
- Encourage the personal andspiritual developmentof prisoners,acceptingthemasvaluable
people inthe community

4. Intermsof mendingthe riftbetweenprisoners/offendersandthe community,chaplainsaimto:
- Advocate withincommunityandwithinCorrectionsforthe provisionof betterrehabilitation
resourcesforprisonersaswell asforalternativestoimprisonment.
- Offerthe general communityanalternative topunitive justice inthe hope of changing
publicattitudesof vengeance andperpetualpunishment
Intermsof mendingthe riftbetweenprisoners/offendersandtheirfamilies,chaplainsaimto:
- Liaise between prisonersandtheirfamiliesandlovedones
- Offertransportation
- To replace recidivismwithrestored families
By now,as youcan see,there islotsof work to doin helpingthis vulnerable populationtomeettheir
desiredgoalsforsuccessful reintegrationandas Istatedearlier,the chaplainalone cannottake onsuch
a dauntingtask for restorative justice.
Ina report,the Bureauof Justice Statisticsissuedastudyonthe recidivismratesof formerprisoners
releasedfrom30 statesin2005 and foundthat67.8 percentof releasedprisonerswerearrestedfornew
crimeswithinthree years. Todate,as reportedbythe Justice Department,theydonotknow enough
aboutwhat worksinhelpingformerinmatessafelyandsuccessfullyreintegrate backintosociety.
Recentstatisticsshowthatapproximately,700,000 menand womenandwomenandapproximately
1,885 individualsadayare releasedfromstate orfederal custody.
Although,the SecondChance Actprovidesfederalgrantsforprogramsand servicesthatworkto
reduce recidivism, andimprove offenderoutcomes,the questiontoponderif whetherornot prior to
release fromprison, theseoffendersbeenequippedtobecome law- abidingtax payingmembersof
society? The secondquestiontoponder, cantheybe expectedtorefrainfromre-offendingand
revictimizingtheirfellowcitizens?

5. References:
https://www.globalministries.org
https://www.cminternational.org
https://heritage.org
https://www.nij.gov