NCJ Number
238819
Date Published
March 2012
Length
108 pages
Annotation
This 50-State survey of prison chaplains inquired about their daily role in the prison, their job satisfaction, the tasks that require the most time, the tasks they consider most important, their assessment of religious volunteers who serve inmates, their perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of the correctional system, the quality and reach of rehabilitation programs, and possible ways of cutting costs.
Abstract
Respondents were predominately male, middle-aged, White, Christian, and highly educated (62 percent with graduate degrees). They described themselves as conservative on both social issues and political issues. Most reported having a lot of direct contact with inmates. Their tasks included leading worship services, religious instruction sessions, and spiritual counseling sessions. Approximately half of the respondents have been a prison chaplain for more than 10 years, and most report high job satisfaction. Most had a positive outlook toward the prisons where they work, believing that the correctional system has a positive impact on inmates; 34 percent believed the system needs major changes, and 5 percent said it needs to be completely rebuilt. The chaplains were most positive about the maintenance of discipline in prisons; however, only 8 percent indicated that the system in which they work is doing an excellent job of preparing inmates for reintegration into the community. Still, among chaplains that have religion-related rehabilitation or reentry programs, 57 percent say the quality of such programs has improved over the last 3 years. A sizable minority of chaplains indicated that religious extremism was either "very common" (12 percent) or "somewhat common" (29 percent) among inmates. It was reported to be especially common among Muslim inmates and among followers of pagan or earth-based religions. Extensive tables and appended survey questionnaire