The correctional ideology of prison chaplains: A national survey

✍ Scribed by Jody L Sundt; Francis T Cullen

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 198 KB
• Volume: 30
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0047-2352
• DOI: 10.1016/s0047-2352(02)00152-6

✦ Synopsis

Since the inception of the penitentiary, prison chaplains have been an integral part of the correctional enterprise and identified with fostering offender reformation. This image of the kindly chaplain ministering to the spiritual needs of inmates, however, can be juxtaposed with the view that prisons are dehumanizing and invariably inculcate custodial sentiments among those who work within their walls. In this context, this study used a national survey to examine the correctional orientation of prison chaplains, with a special focus on the level and sources of support for rehabilitation and punishment. The results reveal that chaplains support incapacitation as the primary goal of prisons but also express high levels of support for rehabilitation. Chaplains' attitudes are influenced by their religious beliefs, the characteristics of the work environment, and age. Implications of the findings are discussed in light of the individual experiences/importation and work role/prisonization models.