Corrections_Today_January-February_2022_Vol.84_No.1

nEWS&vIEWS

Correctional Chaplain Perspectives

The relevant chaplain and TOPUCU By Joe Pryor and Norm Mulder C haplains play a vital role in shaping and maintaining the culture of any correctional

In spite of the critical role of cor- rectional chaplains, when budgets tighten, it is often the chaplain posi- tion that is either eliminated or held open for salary savings. Would this be the case if chaplains across the country had established their rel- evancy in the facility? There is, to be sure, both Passive Relevancy and Active Relevancy at play here. Passive Relevancy occurs when the Chaplains show up for work, put in tireless hours, are present, compassionate and provide great programs. However,

Passive Relevancy is dependent upon facility leadership that sees and appreciates the value of chaplains and offers appropri- ate support in times of budgetary constraints. Active Relevancy , on the other hand, occurs when the chaplain thinks outside the box of ways to in- tegrate what they do into the overall fabric of the facility. This most of- ten occurs when the chaplain works closely with other programs and security staff, learns what they do day-in and day-out, and creatively seeks out ways to contribute outside the confines of the Chapel. Active Relevancy takes creativity, tenacity and consistency, but the result is the establishment of a chaplaincy pres- ence in the facility that is relevant to decision-makers at all levels of the agency. Generating genuine self- change in individuals One such program that sup- ports Active Relevancy and can be offered by the chaplains is called TOPUCU, which is an acronym for The Only Person U Cheat is U. Developed in 2014 by Norm Mul- der, a self-described high school misfit who through grit and deter - mination built a successful wealth

facility. They are available 24/7 for emergencies, whether it be among the incarcerated population or staff, provide quality programs that con- tribute to the spiritual well-being of those in their care and accommodate the constitutionally protected free exercise of religion. A frequent and challenging call for a correctional chaplain is to deliver a death notifi - cation to someone in their care and be available for grief counseling.

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10 — January/February 2022 Corrections Today