RELIGION AS A FORM OF INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT (FROM CORRECTIONAL CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT - A READER, 1975, BY LEONARD J HIPPCHEN - SEE NCJ-32007)

• NCJ Number: 49135
• Author(s): R H BLOOM
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Anderson Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PRISON CHAPLAINCY IS PRESENTED, AND THE CONTEMPORARY PREPARATION AND ROLE OF THE PRISON CHAPLAIN IS DESCRIBED, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE EMPHASES OF THE JEWISH FAITH.

Abstract

THE PRISON CHAPLAINCY IS SEEN TO HAVE EVOLVED FROM THE WORK OF FREQUENTLY INCOMPETENT CLERGYMEN WHO HAD FAILED IN THE PARISH MINISTRY, TO THAT OF THE CONTEMPORARY PRISON CHAPLAIN WHO IS TRAINED IN A HIGHLY SPECIALIZED PROGRAM OF COUNSELING AND HUMAN RELATIONS. THE PRINCIPAL ROLE OF THE CHAPLAIN IS SEEN TO BE THAT OF RELATING TO INMATES INDIVIDUALLY AND IN GROUPS SO THAT THEY BECOME AWARE OF THEIR POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP INDIVIDUALLY AND IN RELATIONSHIP WITH FELLOW HUMANS IN ACCORD WITH A DIVINE PLAN. IT IS INDICATED THAT WITHIN THE JEWISH FRAME OF REFERENCE, PERSONS ARE VIEWED NOT AS SINNERS DOMINATED BY AN ORIGINAL CORRUPTION BUT AS CHILDREN OF GOD, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH IN LOVE AND POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO OTHER PEOPLE. IN RELATING TO INMATES ACCORDING TO THIS VIEW, IT IS BELIEVED THE CHAPLAIN HELPS THE INMATES TO THINK OF THEMSELVES IN THIS LIGHT. THE CHAPLAIN IS ALSO VIEWED AS HAVING A ROLE IN RELATION TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH CONSISTS OF HELPING CITIZENS TO SEE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO AID THE EX-OFFENDER ADJUST TO A NEW LIFE UPON RELEASE FROM PRISON. (RCB)