Missouri Department of Corrections   Jay Nixon, Governor   George Lombardi, Director

2729 Plaza Drive P.O. Box 236 Jefferson City, MO 65102 Phone: 573-751-2389 TTD: 573-751-5984 Fax: 573-751-4099

Helping Offenders Succeed from the Inside Out

The Section on Religious/Spiritual Programming, under the direction of the Supervisor of Religious/Spiritual Programming and the staff leadership of department chaplains, facilitates the practice of religious faith and encourages the development of personal spirituality. Department chaplains coordinate religious programming, recruit & supervise religious volunteers, and offer spiritual counseling and support to inmates. In addition to department chaplains, religious volunteers from many faith perspectives provide program and supervisory support for inmate religious activities.

Institutional Adjustment - Religious/spiritual programming seeks to support the institutional adjustment of inmates by facilitating the development of individual spirituality and group religious practices. The development of individual spirituality, the opportunity to attend religious services and receive religious instruction offers inmates hope, and encouragement. A sense of hope leads to positive behavior and the desire to take advantage of program and treatment opportunities. Successful institutional adjustment increases the offender’s chances of meeting the conditions of incarceration without incident, thereby contributing to institutional safety.

Personal Transformation - Religious/spiritual programming facilitates the personal transformation of offenders as they receive religious instruction, reflect upon life choices, and integrate moral and ethical beliefs with actions. The reality of personal transformation is indicated in parole readiness, reduced conduct violations, greater problem solving abilities, positive contact with family/significant others, changed moral frame of reference, and newly acquired skills for successful living.

Social Reintegration - Religious/spiritual programming leads inmates to connect with the religious community of their choice upon release from incarceration and/or to maintain the spirituality with which they have connected. A primary measure of successful social reintegration is meeting the conditions of parole or probation and maintaining a productive sober life free of crime and violence.

Community Restoration - Religious/spiritual programming as it connects with religious and faith communities seeks to partner with those committed to community restoration. The utilization of religious volunteers, offender community service projects sponsored by religious not-for profits, faith-based sobriety, crime prevention, and transitional living programs are primary ways in which we work together for offender success and community restoration.

The primary accommodated religions or faiths practiced in the Missouri Department of Corrections are:

1. Buddhism
2. Christian - General
   (including Jehovah's Witnesses, Latter Day Saints/Mormon, Seventh Day Adventist)
3. Christian - Roman Catholic
4. Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform)
5. Muslim/Al-Islam
6. Moorish Science Temple of America
7. Nation of Islam
8. Native American Spirituality
9. Messianic
   (Global/Living Church of God, Yahweh's Assembly in Yahshua, Messianic Hebrews, Yahweh's Assembly in the Messiah)
10. Wicca
11. Solitary Practice
    (Asatru/Odinism, Christian Separatist Church Society, Ethical Culture/Society, Hare Krishna/ISKCON, Rastifarian, Satanism, Sufism, Vedanta Society)

Numerous congregations, prison ministry programs, and faith organizations provide religious, spiritual, and life skill programming for offenders. Numerous religious volunteers interact weekly with inmates offering spiritual direction.

The department seeks to provide spiritual leadership specific for each faith through religious Volunteers in Correction. Volunteers assist religious/spiritual groups gain a clear understanding of the true nature of their chosen faith and offer spiritual counseling.

The department’s work in the area of religious/spiritual programming is assisted by the Religious Programming Advisory Council (RPAC) which draws from the expertise of community religious leaders. The membership of the Advisory Council consists of a Rabbi, a Christian minister, a Catholic priest, a Native American spiritual leader, an Imam, departmental staff and a professor of comparative religions. The RPAC serves in an advisory capacity regarding religious policy and programming for the department. The basic responsibilities of the Council are:

• to assist in periodic evaluations of institutional religious programming;
• to advise the department of policy and procedures relating to religious/spiritual issues;
• to assist in the recruitment of chaplains and faith group volunteers;
• to provide guidance to the department regarding religious/spiritual activities and programming;
• to review and make recommendations regarding inmate requests for religious/spiritual accommodations, inmate religious complaints, suitability of religious/spiritual materials and issues involving religious/spiritual volunteers; and
• to serve in other reliable functions.

For more information on chaplaincy services, becoming a religious/spiritual volunteer, or to learn how you or your religious organization can support inmate success through religious/spiritual programming please contact Rev. Douglas Worsham, Supervisor of Religious/Spiritual Programming, P.O. Box 236, Jefferson City, MO 65102 (573) 526-6489.

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