FAQ: Prison Religious Programs

DO ALL JAILS AND PRISONS OFFER RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS TO INMATES?

YES AND NO

Many jails and prisons have chaplains and are able to offer religious programs for inmates. Some do not. Typically, religious programming in a jail is fairly limited because of lack of space and lack of the security staff that would be required to oversee the classes and/or worship services.

Most state and federal prisons have a chaplain or educational director that manages religious and/or education programming for prisoners. Some prisons have extensive programs for inmates and others do not. It largely depends on the administration's viewpoint on the value of religious programming and whether there are enough correctional staff and volunteers to operate the programs. Lack of space can also be an issue.

PEACEMAKERS

Many correctional administrators are beginning to welcome religious programs into their facilities because prisoners participating in the programs become a calming influence within the whole population. When there is less violence and fewer disciplinary problems, it increases everyone's safety, saves money, and makes the correctional staff’s job easier.

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