Ebook: SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY IN PRISONS: Focusing on How Chaplaincy Assists in Prison Management

The goal of this book is to provide an overview for psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, clergy, corrections professionals, and volunteers of the role that chaplains play in assisting prison management in the rehabilitation of offenders in addition to their ministerial and administrative responsibilities. Organized into six sections, the first discusses the role chaplains play, the need for prison ministry, fundamental counseling skills, and social theories of crime. Chapter 2 is concerned with crime, delinquency theories, and substance abuse and its treatment and prevention. Chapter 3 discusses how ministry can be wholesome when family fears, poverty, classism, and other issues such as prostitution, juvenile justice, and education are confronted and dealt with. Chapter 4 presents issues concerned with parenting, self-esteem, guilt, anger, and managing negative emotions. Chapter 5 discusses the need for community support such as mentorship and minister of record involvement in the lives of inmates. It also presents Christian treatment modalities such as evangelism, discipleship, and spiritual formation in therapy. The final chapter discusses nontraditional religions encountered in prison, the Religious Freedom Reformation Act, cults, occults, volunteers, and how to organize a prison ministry. This unique book, written from a Christian perspective, presents a comprehensive plan for chaplains and other members of a corrections team to bring a spiritual and humane dimension to prison rehabilitation efforts.