The Prison Chaplain

The manual provides a rationale for chaplaincy by using Winnifred Sullivan's three categories of religious secularism, irreligious secularism, and areligious secularism to outline the essential and transforming value of spiritual care services (preface, introduction). The manual provides a history of justice initiatives and chaplaincy services in a Canadian context (chapters one and two). The manual provides a rationale for spiritual care-giver training by showing how chaplaincy courses at a university level can build on the competencies of leadership and core knowledge that many ministers, rabbis, imams, priests, nuns, and other faith group representatives have. Emotional intelligence, professional practice skills, and diversity are additional competencies needed for spiritual care-givers to become effective prison chaplains (chapters three to six). Six principles shape the content of this book: (1) integration of chaplaincy into corrections (chapters three to six) (2) understanding of prison dynamics (chapters seven to ten), (3) complementary use of sociology and psychology (chapters eleven to fourteen), (4) provision of faith formation, rites and rituals, programs, pastoral care, and a ministry of presence (chapters fifteen to eighteen), (5) ecumenical and multi-faith religious accommodation (chapters nineteen to twenty-one) and (6) professional development (chapters twenty-four and twenty-five). The manual concludes with a statement of best practices by Dr. Thomas Beckner, long-time chaplaincy educator (Correctional Chaplains: Keepers of the Cloak, p. 24). "Chaplains are to have highly polished counselling skills, strong management and facilitation abilities, a working knowledge of various faith group requirements . . . and a strong commitment to serve all residents of the institution regardless of their faith identity or lack thereof."

In the last twelve hours of his life, a death-row prisoner relays his story to a chaplain.

Mary Brown’s engaging book describes the ‘lifeline’ work of the prison chaplaincy. Written by a Quaker chaplain, it shows how important to prisoners this contact is and how it blends into the ever-pressing world of prison regimes. Among the topics covered are the ‘statutory duties’ of chaplains, forgiveness, ‘prison chapel goers’, Christmas in prison, delivering bad news, dealing with grief or anxiety, learning in prisonand restorative justice (which is in line with the teachings of many faiths: as old as religion itself). As the author insists, there is ‘that of God’ to be found in everyone no matter what their crime. Critical, perceptive and of particular interest to people working in or learning about crime and punishment, Confessions of a Prison Chaplain contains insights for people of all faiths (or none); looks at restorative justice and positive justice; and re-affirms the importance of pastoral support in the reform and rehabilitation of prisoners.

This book is an attempt by the author to give us a brief human insight into life behind bars in one of our penal institutions. It is written from the perspective of someone who has walked the walk with the prisoner for twenty years and now questions the effectiveness of our criminal justice system. She is an advocate for a Restorative Justice System and sees this model as the way forward. She argues that true justice lies in healing for all involved in criminal behaviour, including victim, perpetrator and society. The second part of the book hears the voices of the prisoners in emotionally charged reflections on the reality of life within a prison cell. The author challenges the use of prisons to deal with addictions, mental health issues and homelessness.Where prisons are needed, as they are for a small cohort of people, they should be open institutions dedicated to rehabilitation based on the needs of the individual and on societal needs of the time.

Dr. Beckner briefly reviews the history of correctional chaplaincy and its development within the American criminal justice system and summarizes several significant studies of the profession. He examines the critical premises on which chaplaincy rests and presents a unique structural model of chaplaincy consisting of four critical dimensions: personal, pastoral, administrative, and community. Beckner then shows how this paradigm serves as a template for the development of a chaplaincy plan that will meet the needs of a specific institutional setting and can be monitored for effective results.

Chaplains to the Imprisoned begins to fill the information gap through its in-depth study of prison chaplains as seen by co-workers, inmates, and the chaplains themselves. They describe their roles, share difficulties which are encountered in their ministry, and personal methods for coping with these difficulties, especially those which may be internalized as stress. The author, a Roman Catholic priest with a doctorate in criminal justice, provides a fascinating look into the work of chaplains who serve in correctional institutions. This new book sheds a much-needed light on the often hidden, yet significant, role played by chaplains within correctional facilities. Little is known of these chaplains and the work that they do. Though they are frequently depicted in television and film, many of these images are stereotypes from writers’imaginations. In this unique book, chaplains speak for themselves through the results of a survey questionnaire sent by the author to local- and state-level chaplains in New York State and to chaplains throughout the federal prison system. Chaplains to the Imprisoned, the first non-denominational book on these clergy, explores: the history of chaplaincy in this country, including the irony that chaplains have often been treated as unwanted intruders in penitentiaries--which were created originally by religious groups chaplains as seen by other professionals in the field--sometimes positive, often negative, opinions of chaplains drawn from literature written by wardens, corrections officers, and others who deal with chaplains on a routine basis chaplains as seen by inmates--published opinions by inmates who have recorded their impressions of facility chaplains chaplains as seen by chaplains--their own descriptions of their work, frustrations, successes, and failures, along with suggestions for the betterment of the role of chaplains This book is an eye-opening look into the world of prison chaplaincy for students of criminal justice and religion, policymakers for prisons and jails, seminary students, and clergy members themselves, as well as individuals interested in what often goes on behind prison walls from a chaplain’s perspective.

How does a holy God associate with paedophiles, murderers, drug addicts, alcoholics and others rejected by mainstream society? This book is a product of many years working with and in some cases befriending the most despised people in society, prisoners. It addresses questions such as: Why do some people end up in prison? Do they just wake up one morning and think: ‘I am going to rob a bank today’? What happens when they get to prison? How do they cope with the violence? Is rehabilitation a realistic expectation? How can victims of crime be helped and supported? Ideal for outsiders, volunteers and others helping out with prisoners. Contains wise advice based on years of experience. Places imprisonment in a Christian context. Captures the essence of why some people end up in prison. Reviews (of the 1st edition) 'Exceptionally insightful, not to say riveting. There is good theology too and difficult issues are addressed with great humanity. The lavish presentation makes the book especially accessible and invites further reading and reflection'-- Michael Hirst 'Handsomely-produced... a handbook for future prison chaplains, Opening the Doors is indispensable, beginning with the first day on the job, the processes involved and the nexus between prison, community and justice system... Rarely is the inner world of prisoners offered with such detail and precision... Every reader will learn something new... whether it be the day-to-day life of chaplains or searing insights into the spirit and nature of humanity itself, drawn from unsparing reality. Ultimately it is Gill’s sheer honesty and those of the prisoners themselves that remains with the reader.'-- Dr Toby Davidson, lecturer at Macquarie University, Sydney, editor of Francis Webb’s Collected Poems and author of the critical study Christian Mysticism and Australian Poetry 'Knitting together stories and facts about the prison experience to provide an insight into this world, and a helpful guide to anyone wanting to work within it'-- Catholic Record 'The book itself matches what a day working inside of prison is like. For example: the language is coarse and honest; the stories are jarring and emotive; the artworks and layout keep you guessing as to what is going to be around the next corner. Gill’s reflective poetry interspersed examines the role and the emotions of the chaplain... Gill’s book should be a guide to prison chaplaincy as it gives a window to humanising the dehumanised. The book reminds us that there is a person behind the wall, isolated and hurting, who needs peace and grace: without diminishing the effect of their actions or the damage caused to others and the need for justice. The stories that are included are varied and poignant'-- tasmaniananglican.com.au 'Raw and real, confronting and challenging, brutally honest tinged with touches of humour, and provides the reader with a valuable insight into a prisoner’s life... The book is beautifully produced, colourful and easy to read'-- crosslight.org.au 'A timely and realistic introduction to, and insight into, a system that most people are not exposed to... Paul’s book is a passionate and accurate insight into life on the inside. It looks at the process of incarceration and its effects on people... This is a good book and highly recommended'-- The Melbourne Anglican ‘This attractively colourful edition shines a light not only into the depths of prison life but into the innermost thoughts and feelings of its inmates. A powerful account, occasionally confronting yet laced with humour and pathos… It is raw and real, confronting and challenging, brutally honest tinged with touches of humour, providing the reader with a valuable insight into a prisoner’s life behind the razor-wire… beautifully produced, colourful and easy to read’-- Reverend Graham Wright, Senior Prison Chaplain for the Anglican Diocese of Perth