History & Value of
Correctional Chaplaincy
By
Emmett Solomon, President of the Restorative Justice Ministry Network,
Retired
Chaplaincy Administrator for TDCJ, publisher of Restorative Justice News
(formerly, INFORMS), Nationally recognized expert & lecturer in the field of
Criminal Justice Ministry
Chaplains
Were the First Treatment Providers
Chaplains as Government Employees
Role of
Correctional Chaplaincy Is a Difficult Role
Need for Chaplaincy Has Increased
Chaplains
Were the First Treatment Providers
The
Faith Community was first to send people to dungeons and jails to tend to the
needs of prisoners. In the early 20th century those people came to be known as
"chaplains." That word was popularized in the military
services. Usually, a chaplain was a "clergy" who was charged
with overseeing a chapel. The word eventually broadened to be a person
who ministers to people in specialized settings.
Chaplains
as Government Employees
When the government sent its troops to "out-of-the-way" places, it was charged with the responsibility to care for them, physically, mentally and spiritually. The chaplains were supplied by the government as were medical and mental health professionals. Using that same understanding, when governments incarcerate individuals in "out-of-the-way" lock ups, the governments also supply Correctional Chaplains for the same reasons the military does.
Following World War II, Correctional Chaplaincy became a recognized profession. It's primary professional organization is the American Correctional Chaplains Association. It is an affiliate of the American Correctional Association. The ACA has developed standards for correctional institutions which include Correctional Chaplains to provide Pastoral Care and oversee the religious programming for an institution. Clergy are a part of modem institutional life as are doctors and lawyers.
Role of Correctional Chaplaincy Is a Difficult Role
The role of the Correctional Chaplain is not fully understood by some of the prison staff. One of the difficulties is that some staff think it to be an "easy job." Chaplaincy requires the absorption of pain in Its personal interactions with the people who live and work in a "suffering system." That is precisely why chaplaincy brings "healing." The criminal justice system does not ill general bring much healing, because the professionals who administer it try to do it in a very impersonal manner to avoid "the great pain" which is endemic to the system.
Henry
G. Covert is the author of "Ministry to the Incarcerated" published by
the Loyola Press in 1995. He says that in his 19 years in law enforcement
before becoming a Correctional Chaplain, he
never had a job that was as difficult as that of being a chaplain at a major
prison.
Emmett Solomon, Former Director of Chaplains for TDCJ reports that in the early 70's when Billy McMillan was promoted from Assistant Warden to Warden of the Eastham Unit, he began his first staff meeting by saying, "I want you to know that the most difficult job at this unit is being chaplain." He paused for about 20 seconds for emphasis and then moved on to other issues.
Need
For Chaplaincy Has Increased
Correctional
Chaplaincy has grown in importance year by year. Chaplains interface with
the community at a much greater rate than any other person on an institution's
staff, therefore, the chaplain should be an adequate and well trained professional, who is
appropriately compensated.
In the early 60's Texas chaplains were classified in the State Classification System at a similar level as Assistant Wardens because of the high educational requirements associated with the position. In the early 80's the leadership of TDC quit using the State Classification System as it was designed. Step raises were no longer used as merit increases. People employed after that time were kept at step one of the pay group in which they were classified. Of course it was only a matter of time until, wholesale reclassification became necessary. Most departments of the agency have gone through major reclassification; however, Chaplaincy has not yet been granted theirs.
Chaplains
Were the First Treatment Providers
Chaplains as Government Employees
Role of
Correctional Chaplaincy Is a Difficult Role
Need for Chaplaincy Has Increased
By Emmett Solomon, President of the Restorative Justice Ministry Network, Former Chaplaincy Administrator for TDCJ, publisher of Restorative Justice News (formerly, INFORMS), nationally recognized expert & lecturer in the field of Criminal Justice Ministry
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