A Review of “Chaplaincy Services” in the
Bi-Monthly Reports to Texas Board of Criminal Justice
by the Programs & Services Division
Calendar Years 2000 and 2001
Introduction March 13,
2001
February 28, 2000
May 2, 2001
April 26, 2000 June 27, 2001
June 28, 2000 September 4, 2001
August 30, 2000 October 17, 2001
October 18, 2000
December 20, 2000 Conclusion
These
are the bi-monthly reports that sum up the entire operations of the Programs
and Services Division for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). These reports are presented to the Texas
Board on Criminal Justices as official reports on the state of affairs for the
division reporting. Through an Open
Records request for the all of the reports for calendar years 2000 and 2001,
the following eleven reports were obtained:
2-28-00, 4-26-00, 6-28-00, 8-30-00, 10-18-00, 12-20-00, 3-13-01, 5-2-01,
6-27-01, 9-4-01, 10-17-01. For what
Chaplains have ACTUALLY done, that have never been fully reported in any
public document or in any significant division report, see the TRUE
CHAPLAINCY MARKET DATA at the web site.
In the
August 26, 2002, update, here is all that is recorded for chaplaincy:
We are in process of re-writing Chaplains job
descriptions to provide separate descriptions for Christian non-Roman Catholic,
Christian Roman Catholic, and Muslim chaplain positions.
The June meeting of the Religious Practice Committee
(RPC) agenda included questions regarding accommodations for Messianic Jews,
Church of God adherents, House of Yahweh adherents, Buddhists, Native
Americans, Freemasons and Pagans. In July
and August Chaplaincy staff attended meetings and disseminated information
regarding the decisions about these accommodations and their implementation.
By
the way, the current job descriptions are already below national standards, and
the director of chaplains position has been lowered twice in the last ten years
(lowered each time a director retired).
You can see the August 26, 2002 FULL
REPORT at the web site too.
Summaries
of the data on Windham Prison School have been collated from these and reported
in the section “Chaplaincy Cost-Savings.”
With regard to TDCJ Chaplaincy, there is nothing in these reports to
report with respect to the larger issues of the Chaplaincy contributions to
TDCJ’s mission critical functions. We
have to go elsewhere to get data on Chaplaincy.
Each of
these reports were from 6 to 7 pages long and were apparently part of a larger
report presented to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice (TBCJ). These reports contain the summations of the
contributions and progress of the varying entities under the purview of the
Director of Programs and Services Division.
The is
large division and each report is broken down into several paragraphs for each
of the following section or department (from 1 to 3-4 paragraphs each): Access to Courts, Chapel/MultiPurpose
Programmatic Construction, CHAPLAINCY, Civil Commitment, Data Services, DNA
Testing, Drug Testing, Faith-Based Pre-Release Program “InnerChange,” Federal
Funds, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Interface, Institutional
Removal Program (IRP),[1] Mail
System Coordinators Panel (MSCP), Office for Disciplinary Coordination, Sex
Offender Management Grant Initiative, Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP),
Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP), Volunteer Coordination Committee,
Windham School District (WSD) and the Youthful Offender Program (YOP).
The
following is how the Chaplaincy Department has been reported over this two year
period. Rather, the following is how
the Chaplaincy is NOT reported and is in fact grossly underreported. I wish there was an easier term. For the most part, these are summations of
the few paragraphs under the category CHAPLAINCY. Only in the 2-28-00 report is there a very brief summary of “all”
of the sections. The analysis will show
at the rear of this review, all of the other sections contain – for the most
part – pertinent or novel information on the progressive review of this huge
division. Statistics are given,
especially with respect to the very “programmatic” functions like Substance
Abuse and Windham School, that are brief, informative. They outline a huge scope of affairs. But with respect to CHAPLAINCY essentially NOTHING
of substance is given on the contributions of the Chaplaincy Services to the
mission of TDCJ. That is, NOTHING of
substance is given for two years to the governing board of the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice.
And this
is done in spite of the fact that for the last two years the chaplains have
been scurrying around the state getting the word out and forwarding Chaplain
Professional Equity with a substantive proposal outlining the HUGE
contributions of state chaplains. A web
site exists that gets nearly a 1,000 hits a day. And the proposal has been available on-line, has been placed into
the hands of the Carl Jefferies, Director of the Program and Services
Divisions, other leaders around the state, and every member of the Senate
Finance Committee and the House Appropriations.
CHAPLAINCY: Crossover Ministries did services for 120
youthful offenders. Several other
groups did services. Bill Glass had 170
re-dedications and 70 new Christian faith commitments.[2]
CHAPLAINCY: several units received several visits from
several ministries. In March and April,
there were baptismal, singing services, revivals, concerts and special
teachings. During ‘Victim’s Crime
Week,’ the Chaplaincy Department assisted with organizing events and conducting
training for the Trauma Team at the Willacy Unit.
CHAPLAINCY: “Over 15 different units held regular and
special religious events such as concerts, crusades, revivals, seminars, and
telecasts.” THIS IS THE TOTAL REPORT
FOR CHAPLAINCY SERVICES MAY AND JUNE 2000.
CHAPLAINCY:
regional meetings were held, several regional staff were involved in
ministry to seven executions, Chaplaincy was “actively involved in interaction
with several volunteer groups anticipating involvement in chapel construction”
at two units, Chaplaincy Department involved with Gang Renunciation program,
staff met author of Voyager Program, several meetings were held with faith
groups and Dir. of Chaplaincy served on panel at ACA conference in San Antonio
(8-2000) on topic, “Inmates and Religion – Is It Real?”
CHAPLAINCY: Annual Conference was held at Trinity Pines
Conference Center. “The main focus of
the conference emphasized expanding spiritual growth opportunities for
offenders and Chaplains.” The speakers
re-emphasized the value and importance of the Chaplains as individuals.[3] Strategies for adapting to change in
personal and professional lives.
Several top TDCJ executives speak at the conference.
ACCESS TO COURTS:
it is reported that during two months 127,580 offenders will attend law
library sessions.
CHAPLAINCY: [This is the largest yet, almost a full
page] Two administrators present at a
Coalition of Prison Evangelists Conference in Branson, MI. Dir. of Chaplaincy chairs a meeting of the
Religious Practice Committee at the request of the Director of the
Institutional Division. New federal
legislation is discussed.[4] The Chaplaincy staff host the retirement of
31 year employee Imam Akbar Shabazz.
“The Program and Services Assistant Director for Religious Programs met
with representatives of Mike Barber and T.D. Jakes ministry to discuss ways in
which the T.D. Jakes Ministry may begin to participate in satellite TV
broadcasts to the TDCJ units.”[5] “The Chaplaincy Department Region I Program
Administrator served on the program at the annual regional banquet for unit
staff support officers.”
Sex Offender Treatment: expands to “accommodate 623 male offenders.” In this report the tens and hundreds of
offenders are analyzed.
CHAPLAINCY: The Asst. Dir. and Dir. of Chaplaincy meet
with Don Jones. They meet with Bob
Vickers of the Southern Baptist Convention and tour the Vance Unit. They meet with the Bill Glass Ministry. Other Chaplaincy administrators conduct
training for chaplains in the regions.
The Chaplaincy office staff
conducted a three-day training for nine “recently hired chaplains.” “This also gave the new chaplains an opportunity
to meet the Chaplaincy headquarters staff and become better acquainted with
headquarters office operations.”[6] [WHY IS THIS REPORTED TO THE BOARD OF THE
SECOND LARGEST PRISON SYSTEM IN THE WORLD?
IT BESPEAKS OF THE UTTER FAILURE TO SEE WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO TEXAS; IT IS AN UTTER SHAME TO SEE THIS AS OPPOSED
TO TEN THOUSAND OTHER ITEMS OF GREATER IMPORTANCE. Only two reasons exist for that sentence: gross ignorance of the mission of TDCJ on
behalf of the writer, or insidious conniving to make chaplaincy appear as grade
school children in need of lollipops.]
A program administrator is interviewed for a broadcast of the Southern
Baptist Convention. Three program
administrators participate as guest speakers at a volunteer appreciation
banquet.
CHAPLAINCY: The Asst. Dir. and Dir. meet with all Region
V Chaplains and discuss policy. One administrator
is a guest speaker in Manhattan on issue capitol punishment and interviewed by
several others. The following is quoted
verbatim: “The Region III Chaplaincy
Department Program Administrator chaired the annual crusade provider meeting to
tentatively organize schedules for TDCJ facilities for the year 2002. One Program Administrator attended an
offender property committee meeting to discuss and finalize policy
revisions. Another Program
Administrator participated as a guest speaker at a volunteer appreciation
event.” [Is this ALL or the MOST
Important things the Chaplaincy Department did in April and May 2001?]
CHAPLAINCY: The Chaplaincy HQ leadership attend a
conference and the Dir. presented the Benediction at the Governor’s Annual
Volunteer Awards Ceremony. The Dir.
addresses two other conferences. One
Program Administrator receives an award.
Chaplaincy Administration participated in several other activities: closing ceremony of “Adults Relating to
Kids,” “Reads Awards Program,” guest speaker at GED graduation, planning
meeting for “Family Net,” guest speaker at Texas Association of X-Offenders and
attendance at a Unit Staff Support Officer training.
CHAPLAINCY: July and August, Chaplaincy administrators participate
in groundbreaking ceremony of the Region V Training Academy and attended
statewide KAIROS meeting to clarify TDCJ policy. They also participated in an Impact Panel for Victim Offender
Encounter. Staff participated in
retirement reception at the Goree clubhouse.
Sex Offender Treatment: Program is at 97% @ 535.
Substance Abuse Treatment Program reports 300 offenders were screened
and entered into system and a Houston Group donates $513 in AA literature.
CHAPLAINCY: Annual chaplaincy staff conference with a
theme “The Servant Leader.” Five major
presentations were made reviewing the purpose of chaplaincy. Several top executives, including Gary Johnson
“addressed the conference attendees.”
There were breakout groups on issues common to chaplains.[7] “Twenty-one volunteer ministries provided
information booths.”[8]
For
those who value Chaplaincy and value religion in general as human history’s
greatest resource for change, the following makes one weep and hurt
inside. For those of us to take pride
in what we do and have paid a great price to gain significant credentials to
better serve the great state of Texas – it is a time for change of
leadership.
For the
above is a breach of trust of the good citizens of Texas and a solid slap in
the face of the mission critical functions of great Texas Department of
Criminal Justice—if this is best the chaplaincy has to offer, it needs
cancellation and the pandering needs to come to an end. But if there is a larger story that has been
obfuscated, then the authors or architects of these reports need replaced or at
least severely reprimanded for obscuring great accomplishments.
More
data is presented in a single chaplains report for a single month than is
reported in the entirety of the two years presented above. And some of what is reported above is so
childish and inane that it makes the whole report suspect—an embarrassment.
As
example of substantial reporting, the reports on the Windham School District
are substantial and consistent throughout.
Essentially, Windham presents in two parts: (1) basic cumulative stats of it’s primary functionaries, and (2)
commentary on critical and/or system wide developments with a view important
events tossed in for good measure.
Within
the Chaplaincy sections, the “chaplains” who do the work are left out
completely, absolutely. Nothing at all
is reported on what the Chaplains have done, facilitated, taught, counseled,
connected—nothing. The TDCJ Chaplaincy
Department has a mission statement, and nothing in two is reported that
reflects any kind of accomplishment of the mission statement. And nothing is reported during a time when
the Chaplains themselves have made a historic endeavor to attain Equality. This kind of a reporting is a prescription
for demise at worse or a gross failure of trust at best.
One
question looms: HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN
GOING ON?
Introduction March 13,
2001
February 28, 2000
May 2, 2001
April 26, 2000 June 27, 2001
June 28, 2000 September 4, 2001
August 30, 2000 October 17, 2001
October 18, 2000
December 20, 2000 Conclusion
[1] These do not appear in all of the reports: Faith-Based Pre-Release Program “InnerChange,” Federal Funds, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Interface, Institutional Removal Program (IRP).
[2] “170” is the LARGEST number reported in two years of the 11 bi-monthly reports to the TDCJ Board, and that number is made about a volunteer provider.
[3] This is the First and Second of Only FIVE times the word “chaplain” appears in nearly two years of reports to the TDCJ Board (in the 11 reports referenced here).
[4] This paragraph is largest paragraph in any of the eleven reports reviewed and perhaps has the least substance: many long titled persons “reviewed” and “considered” several things.
[5] Of the six times mentioned, this is the most significant thing mentioned that is done by the TDCJ Assistant Director of Religious Services in the eleven reports: one other time he meets and tours with a chaplaincy leader, the other four times he is at a conference.
[6] This is the Third and Fourth of Only FIVE times the word “chaplain” appears in nearly two years of reports to the TDCJ Board (in the 11 reports referenced here).
[7] This is the Fifth of Only FIVE times the word “chaplain” appears in nearly two years of reports to the TDCJ Board (in the 11 reports referenced here).
[8] This is the eleven