The document discusses the role and responsibilities of chaplains working in correctional and prison facilities, noting that chaplains provide spiritual care and support to inmates who are isolated from family and support systems. Several challenges of the work are outlined, including building trust with inmates, addressing issues of injustice and discrimination, and protecting against manipulation or favoritism while maintaining confidentiality. Proper preparation is emphasized, including theological training, self-awareness, and ensuring one's faith and credentials qualify them for the important role of prison chaplain.

1. THE WORK OF THE Correctional
and Prison
CHAPLAIN Chaplaincy

2. THE WORK OF CHAPLAINCY IN
CORRECTIONS AND PRISON FACILITIES
 Chaplains are people who work in a secular environment
among health professionals and their primary task is to
provide “soul care” to the recipient.
 Chaplains are people that are a specific representative of a
particular faith group, they are experts in their religious
beliefs, knowledge and practice.
 Chaplaincy dates back to ancient times and many forms of
chaplaincy are still practiced today. Physicians have
recognized the advantage in providing spiritual care of a
person in conjunction to physical care. Chaplains also should
be sensitive and supportive of the diverse culture, spiritual,
and religious beliefs of their patients and all those around
them.

3. CORRECTIONAL AND PRISON
CHAPLAINCY
 I desire to do chaplaincy in correctional and prison facilities
 Chaplaincy is needed in the correctional and prison facilities
because prison are spiritual dark places and their inmates
need to receiving spiritual care. Most of these inmates that
are imprisoned have been separated from all of their friends
and family.
 Inmates are in just as much need for Jesus as we are!
“Inmates suf fer the same disappointments, hurts, and grief
that others face on the outside. They experience separation,
broken relationships, and betrayal; demotions,
disappointments, deaths, and deteriorating self -esteem;
physical illness or disease, emotional turmoil or distractions,
financial or economic hardships and spiritual crises….
Continued… - next slide

4. CORRECTIONAL AND PRISON
CHAPLAINCY
 …The dif ference between inmates and the average citizen is
that inmates experience these things in complete isolation,
separated from loved ones and support systems. The very
nature of their circumstances makes them more vulnerable to
emotional and spiritual distress.”
 Daily Chaplain visits to inmates can be so helpful to inmates,
they are insolated and have very little visitation time with the
outside world.

5. PROBLEMS CHAPLAINS WOULD
ENCOUNTER
 I have no doubt that Prison Chaplain is a intense ministry job!
The fact that your mission field is a “high security maximum
prison”…! Sounds like that ’s a job many wouldn’t take.
 Chaplains must always be aware of their surroundings while
working and counseling in these facilities. You would be
literally working with the most “dangerous people” on earth.
 The Work of a Chaplain gives a great description of problems
could encounter within prison ministry.
 “Correctional chaplains have the dif ficult task of building
trust with inmates through personalizing their relationships,
humanizing their circumstances, equalizing their perceived
inequities, and fostering peace and reconciliation in
circumstances of prejudice, discrimination, racism, and all
forms of injustice…. Continued 

6. PROBLEMS CHAPLAINS WOULD
ENCOUNTER
 “Correctional institutions create acute vulnerability for
chaplains. They are vulnerable to exploitation by experienced
manipulators. They are vulnerable to showing favoritism to
hose who seem “nicer” or who demonstrate an interest in
matters of faith. They are vulnerable to doing and saying
things that may be innocent but that interpreted or perceived
quite dif ferently with legal ramifications. They are vulnerable
to breaching confidentiality when questioned by those in
authority or by those who seem casually interested. They are
vulnerable to stereotyping, personal prejudices and biases,
and exhaustion from intense, long -term spiritual care.
Correctional chaplains provide the context for spiritual health
in one of the most dif ficult situations of life, a time of
isolation and limited choices.”

7. “KNOWING THYSELF”
 Before taking a role as a chaplain its very important “know
thyself”…
 You should already be confident in your skills, both aware of
your weaknesses and strengths.
 You should prepare personal time to spend with God to avoid
any spiritual weariness
 You should know your purpose and also what you stand for so
your character and morals aren’t compromised.
 “Knowing thyself” is very important… As you are focused and
pouring into someone’s life, you should also have someone
that is pouring into your life.

8. PREPARING FOR CHAPLAINCY!!!
 Steps to prepare for Chaplaincy!!!
 Pray to God! Make sure you feel called!!! (This is a job that
you do because you know you are called to it)
 Seek formal theological training!
 Seek clinical training
 Investigate your personal faith and religious requirements for
the job! (Must your have previous experience? Or a degree?
Etc.)
 Attempt to get your credentials if possible! (Having
credentials just confirms to others that you are professionally
trained!)