Criminal Justice Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care
90 Minute Workshops ~ Saturday, August 20, 2022 – 9:45am – 11:15am
Workshop Level: Intermediate*
NACC Certification Competencies: ITP1, PPS1, OL1
Presenter
Deacon Edgardo Farias MDiv, PhD candidate
Director, Detention Ministry Archdiocese of Miami
Miami Shores, FL
About this workshop
This workshop summarizes an exploratory study undertaken to consider the chaplaincy personnel ministering to people impacted through the criminal justice proceedings. This qualitative research indicates that criminal justice chaplaincy strives to fulfill spiritual and pastoral care duties according to national and international standards. Various frustrations are identified by police chaplains and correctional chaplains, which thwart their professional role as spiritual care providers (a chaplain is needed for court). Guidelines are determined to develop the new paradigm of comprehensive pastoral care in the criminal justice system. The implications of this exploratory study relate to chaplaincy in the criminal justice system as well as religious organizations, governments, and the need for further research.
As a result of this workshop, participants will:
- Describe the new paradigm of comprehensive pastoral care in the criminal justice system: police, court, and corrections.
- Identify the benefits of spiritual and pastoral care for police, court, and corrections personnel.
- Articulate chaplains’ professional contributions and the problems they experienced while helping people struggling with the criminal justice system processes.
Educational Materials
(recommended books, articles, or websites for participants to review prior to the workshop)
Towards Comprehensive Pastoral Care of the Criminal Justice System by Deacon Edgardo Farias
Along with ministry, advocate to change the system by Edgardo Farias (Vision, Nov/Dec 2018)
Criminal Justice and the Catholic Church by Andrew Skotnicki (2008)
Redeeming a Prison Society A Liturgical and Sacramental Response to Mass Incarceration by Amy Levad (2014)
Catholic Perspectives on Crime and Criminal Justice by Willard M. Oliver (2008)
Doing Justice to Mercy: Religion, Law, and Criminal Justice – Jonathan Rothchild, Matthew Myer Boulton, and Kevin Jung, eds.
Presentation Materials
(items to be brought to the workshop and/or presentation materials)
— none required
The NACC categorizes workshops on three levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. The definitions of each level are provided below.
Beginner: Basic information on the topic for those with little background in the area.
Intermediate: Basic plus additional information on the topic for those with some background in the area.
Advanced: Specialized information on the topic for those with extensive experience and/or knowledge in the area.
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