The Importance of Chaplains in Jail

While working as the Superintendent of a jail in Massachusetts a few years ago, I received a call to inform me that an inmate’s brother had been shot and killed. The call came in during the afternoon, and I knew that there was a good chance that the murder would be mentioned during the broadcast of the local news that evening.

The housing units generally had the news on during the dinner hour and evening recreation. I called the head of Social Services to see if we had a Chaplain in the facility. She informed me that the Rabbi was there but just getting ready to leave. I asked if she could have him come to my office.

The inmate whose brother was killed was a Muslim so I was unsure how my request for the Rabbi to come with me to break the news to him would be received. I told the Rabbi of the death and he said that he felt that he had a duty to provide comfort to anyone who suffered a family tragedy such as this. We went over to the housing unit to speak with the man whose world was going to change. When we called him into the caseworker’s office, he immediately knew something was wrong. I broke the news and struggled with knowing what to say to him in his grief. The Rabbi went over to him and embraced him as he sobbed. His words of comfort and faith resonated with him. They spoke for about 15 minutes before we had Mental Health check-in on him. About a week later, the inmate told me that he felt some level of peace when the Rabbi spoke to him and comforted him. That reinforced what I always have known. Jail chaplains are invaluable spiritual advisors who help the people we have in our custody and the staff who work an extremely stressful job.

The Role of Chaplaincy in Jails

Jail chaplains provide spiritual, emotional, and practical support. For the incarcerated population, they are key in lowering the stress level in the facility by helping with issues like psychological adjustment of being incarcerated, missing out on family milestones and events, and not being part of outside society. They have a unique perspective and enjoy non-judgmental relationships that can provide hope and comfort. Their role extends beyond religious services and includes counseling, mentoring, and being a listening ear. Chaplains hear of inmates’ fears, loneliness, and anger, and provide pastoral counseling and spiritual guidance, regardless of religious preference.

The chaplains’ role with the incarcerated population extends outside of the jail. They often connect with the inmates’ religious leaders who may not know that one of the members of their church, temple, or mosque is incarcerated. They also encourage the spirituality that many men and women f ind in jail to continue as they reenter society. Chaplains counsel the inmates to work on their sobriety and give encouragement when they slip up. They are also a powerful voice for family reunification.

Chaplains for Jail Staff

Our chaplains’ role in offering comfort does not end with the inmates. They play a crucial role for our officers and other staff members. I have witnessed our Priests, Ministers, Imams, Nuns, and other religious leaders speak to staff members about a family loss, the birth of a child, a son or daughter leaving for college, and other stressful issues at home. Some of our employees are very spiritual, and some are not. A little over a decade ago, I remember an officer who was struggling with financial issues telling me after meeting with our Department Nun, “I don’t go to church, and I’m not sure about having faith, but I always feel better after talking to her. She listens to me and hears me.” The officer retired from the agency in 2018. When the Nun passed away 3 years ago, the former officer was one of many current employees and former employees who attended her wake and funeral. That also reinforced what I have always known. Chaplains provide a moral compass and are an island of peace in the sea of turmoil that a jail can be.

Conclusion

Chaplains are not just religious figures in a jail. They are the anchors of humanity in a place that often feels stripped of it. Their presence brings comfort in moments of grief, perspective in times of struggle, and peace in an environment that can be overwhelming for both inmates and staff. Whether offering a prayer, a listening ear, or simply standing beside someone in pain, they remind us that compassion and dignity have a place even behind the walls of a correctional facility. Jail Chaplains, for both staff and inmates, are invaluable.

One of the Catholic Priests who I worked with described his role perfectly when he told me that, “I am a man of God. My role is to provide spiritual comfort to people who need it, regardless of their faith.” Non-denominational spiritual guidance given by our chaplains is a key piece of our efforts to provide a safe and supportive working environment and living conditions.

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Gerard J. Horgan served as the Superintendent of Jail Operations and Special Sheriff at the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office from 2013 to 2018. In this role, he supervised all Uniformed, Programs, Medical, Mental Health, HR, Fiscal, Legal, Classification, and other administrative staff. Horgan oversaw the daily operation of the facility and served as a liaison to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and the courts. Previously, he spent over 25 years as the Suffolk County sheriff’s department as the Director of Human Resources, Deputy Superintendent, and Superintendent/Special Sheriff at both the Nashua Street Jail and the South Bay House of Correction. Currently, Horgan was a member of the Governor’s Special Commission on Correctional Funding in Massachusetts, and he has worked with the Massachusetts Sheriff’s Association on the compliance efforts with the Criminal Justice Reform Act of 2018. He also provides consulting services to a number of sheriff’s offices on legal and operational issues. For more information, he can be contacted at horgans4@ verizon.net