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The presence of a spiritual environment models, promotes, and encourage offenders to develop a sense of hope and a redemptive and productive lifestyle. The Department's Volunteer program provides spiritual, 12 step, educational and other programming through a respected and recognized volunteer community that reinforces the spiritual, educational and other pro-social values and beliefs that contribute to positive reentry. Spiritual reentry mentors wrap support systems around each offender. This is a recognized core building block to long term public safety and civil and productive citizenship.
Religious ministry to the incarcerated is as old as incarceration itself. The long tradition of prison chaplaincy is continued in the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) through the services of a variety of different channels.
The Pastoral Activities program of the ADC consists of 44 chaplains and approximately 800 religious volunteers who provide religious services and coordinate religious privilege accommodation for approximately 70 different religions routinely represented in the offender population.
While religious services are coordinated by the chaplains, these services are presented by both chaplains and volunteers. In addition, other community groups and individuals assist with special services and seminars scheduled periodically at each complex.
An additional 200 volunteers assist the ADC with provision of other services, including substance abuse meetings, education and administrative tasks.
Studies have shown that offenders active in religious programming are less likely to be involved in negative behavior within the institution, profit from a spiritual support system during transition, and also develop skills that enhance their chance for long-term success in society.
Providing offenders the opportunity to examine their behavior in the light of the teachings of their religious traditions assists in holding offenders accountable for their actions and presents them with hope for a change to more appropriate behavior and positive personal outcomes.
Religious Services ensure that offenders are provided access to religious activities, religious materials, religious diets, and other legitimate requirements of their faith. Regularly scheduled worship/study opportunities are provided for religions represented in our offender population based upon inmate requests and available time and space for services.
Mission of Religious Services
To provide an opportunity for offenders to pursue personal development, find hope and understand their accountability through connection
with religious leaders and personal religious commitment.
Further Information
Frequently Asked Questions- regarding Religious Services and volunteer programs
Offender Marriages - the marriage
application process for offenders within the Department of Corrections
Religious Property - information regarding personal religious property and
donated supplies Religious Diets - the accommodations of
religious dietary requirements
Institutional Chaplains - information and links to the
religious services provided at each institution
Volunteer Program - recruitment training and recognition of
volunteers
Religious Advisory Committee
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