NCJ Number
112989
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 50 Issue: 5 Dated: (August 1988) Pages: 203,210,212
Date Published
1988
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Correctional religious programming would be very difficult without the assistance of good volunteers in the ministry.
Abstract
The prison chaplain's staff has a great responsibility to screen volunteers for sincerity and dedication to the ministry of inmates and to train them in what to expect both from inmates and administrative personnel. The most important aspect of the religious program at Louisiana State Penitentiary is the basic core of dedicated, committed, and clinically trained full-time chaplains on the facility's administrative staff. This core of chaplains recruits, trains, and deploys suitable volunteers. Volunteer chaplains conduct regular, weekly worship services and provide one-on-one ministry to hundreds of inmates. Occasionally, graduate students serve as volunteer chaplain interns. Several groups of volunteers minister to specific denominational groups, offering weekly meetings and worship services and providing guidance to inmate church leaders. The Prison Fellowship Ministries recruits and trains Christian laypersons to serve as facilitators and discussion leaders at Gospel seminars offered for inmates. The organization's Angel Tree Project purchases and delivers gifts to inmates' children in the name of the child's parents. Other volunteer programs offer Bible study courses; provide religious reading materials and resources; supply religious advisors; and offer drama, music, and other programs.