SO Jail Chaplain

Weld County Government•Greeley, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Chaplain's role in a Jail setting is to ensure all religious activities and related decisions are consistent with constitutionally protected rights of incarcerated inmates, assuring the equal status and protections of all religions. The Jail Chaplain is charged to ensure that inmates receive appropriate religious accommodation(s) consistent with case law and constitutional protections. The chaplain not only facilitates access to religious services but also oversees the coordination of religious volunteers, ensures compliance with institutional policies, and advises on religious and ethical considerations within the jail environment. The Chaplain will work with Inmate Services and Jail Leadership to ensure the proper balance between religious expression and safety in the Detentions setting. The role of Jail Chaplain is an on-site, in-person position, 40 hours a week, expected to work traditional Monday-Friday business hours, but may require occasional evening, weekend, or on-call hours.

Requirements

Theology degree from an accredited seminary/bachelor’s degree in biblical counseling / Bachelor of Divinity or Clinical Pastoral Education or equivalent specialized training and endorsement by the appropriate religious certifying body.
5 years of formal religious pastoral/counseling experience.
Demonstrated success in coordinating oversight of religious programming to include, but not limited to, recruitment, supervision, training, and scheduling of groups and maintaining constructive working relationship with peers, volunteers, superiors and clergy within the community representing various faiths.
Demonstrated success in record keeping, professional documentation, and statistical reporting.
Interpersonal communication to deal effectively with and persuade people of differing backgrounds and behavior patterns in a wide range of settings.
Ability to read, write, and speak English.
Effectively plan, problem-solve and perform as a member of a work group.
Basic math skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals; and the ability to count, sort, and categorize inventory items.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables, in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to define and analyze a problem, develop a range of possible solutions, identify and implement most appropriate solution and monitor results.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, schedule form.
Ability to operate telephones, computer terminal, keyboard, photocopier, and printer/scanning instrumentation.
Ability to use warehouse equipment.
Independent reference skills to locate accurate information quickly.
Candidate must pass criminal background check prior to employment start date.
Current certificate of ordination from governing body.
Acknowledgement that the role of Chaplain is non-denominational, the candidate must, with clear conscience, serve the needs of all inmates of all religious beliefs and affiliations.
Affirmation by the ordination or supervising authority that the candidate has not been the subject of a sustained complaint (administrative or criminal) of abuse, neglect, sexual assault, or sexual harassment of a parishioner, congregant, attendee, or any individual that would be considered as at-risk or where the candidate acted in a position of trust.
Pre-employment substance screening is required for this position.
This position is subject to a pre-employment drug screening.
Employment is contingent upon successfully passing the screening in accordance with Weld County policy.

Nice To Haves

Religious counseling experience with incarcerated individuals is preferred.

Responsibilities

Ensures that inmates have access to religious services, literature, and dietary accommodations as mandated by legal precedent, including the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
Oversees the recruitment, supervision, training, and scheduling of both lay and clergy volunteers at the Weld County Jail.
Assures equal status and protection of all religions.
Reviews and responds to all inmate requests related to religious matters and accommodations, including religious materials, practices, and diets.
Assists offenders with their spiritual needs, coordinates religious activities within the facility, maintains open lines of communication with the faith communities, and operates with the goal of connecting inmates to community-based faith groups upon their release.
Ensures all religious activities and related decisions are consistent with constitutionally protected rights of incarcerated inmates.
Works with Inmate Services and Jail Leadership to ensure the proper balance between religious expression and safety in the Detentions setting.
Communicates effectively orally and in writing, maintains the trust and confidence of superiors, and follows all directives.
Consults with, and regularly updates, the Inmate Services Director and Custody Staff regarding all aspects of the religious program provided in the facility.
Develops and maintains a comprehensive volunteer program.
Screens, trains, and manages religious volunteers who provide faith-based services to inmates, ensuring adherence to security protocols and facility policies.
Develops and maintains working relationships with the faith-based community and religious organizations to achieve the goal of ongoing community support for inmates integrating back into the community.
Works with the faith-based community to solicit donations of religious material for all faiths, as appropriate for and in compliance with facility rules.
Maintains a volunteer file for each active volunteer, including application, criminal history record, notification contract, orientation and training documentation, contact logs, performance actions, hours volunteered, and details of religious study groups.
Supervises all religious volunteers, contacting each quarterly to assess needs for assistance, training, material content, presentation, questions, issues, or mentoring, and documenting all contacts.
Facilitates annual Criminal History checks of each volunteer.
Verifies and authorizes all visiting community clergy entering the facility, obtaining necessary documentation and verifying credentials.
Provides an orientation session prior to authorizing clergy to meet with an inmate.
Maintains a current Volunteer Calendar, assigning volunteers to specific housing units and updating assignments annually.
Prepares the Volunteer Calendar for the following year by December 15th and submits it to the Inmate Services Director for approval.
Provides a mandatory volunteer training session once per year for all religious volunteers, with additional sessions as needed.
Provides and conducts Volunteer Orientation sessions as needed.
Facilitates an annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony.
Investigates religious accommodations within 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays), which may include inmate interviews, research of institutional history, current information, theological reasons, and recommendations.
Completes the “Religious Diet Participation Agreement” for approved inmates and monitors compliance, documenting all monitoring in the facility computer system.
Completes the “Religious Diet Non-Compliance Report” for non-compliant inmates.
Notes all denied religious materials on the Inmate Request Form and documents the denial with a thorough explanation in the computer system.
Responds to Step 1 grievances related to religious accommodations within ten working days and submits responses to the Inmate Services Director for review prior to issuance.
Provides crisis, short-term pastoral care when requested by an inmate, which does not include mental health or substance abuse counseling.
Refers inmates with mental health or substance abuse counseling issues to appropriate staff.
Documents all pastoral care sessions in the facility computer, consistent with confidentiality and safety/security interests.
Completes death verifications and notifications during scheduled hours.
Records and documents actions taken related to religious accommodations, requests, religious volunteer training and scheduling, Grievance Responses, and monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting.
Provides statistical reports to the Director of Inmate Services, including an annual report, quarterly statistics, and a monthly summary of chaplain services.
Accurately and thoroughly documents all inmate contacts in the facility computer system on the date of service.
Provides short-term pastoral care when requested by an inmate and provides religious studies for inmates in housing units where volunteers are not allowed or cannot be accommodated.
Provides no more than two (2) religious studies per week per housing unit unless approved by the Inmate Service Director, with the ongoing goal of recruiting volunteers.