Corrections_Today_March_April_2020_Volume 82, Number 2

nEWS & vIEWS

Correctional Chaplain Perspectives

Benefits of CPE-Trained Correctional Chaplains: Part 1 By The Rev. Eric Jeuland, BCC

T he word chaplain comes from the Latin word “cappella,” meaning “little cloak.” Chris- tian legend states that a member of the Roman army was deployed to Gaul (now France), and on his way to Amiens came upon a nearly-naked beggar on a cold day. He whipped off his military cloak, sliced it in two with his sword and gave half of his cloak (“little cloak”) to the beggar. The man went on to become a bishop and a saint of the Roman Catho- lic Church; Saint Martin of Tours (316-397). 1 Over the years, the word “chaplain” has come to mean a person who offers spiritual care and emotion- al support to a special group of people not attached to a church, synagogue, temple or religious institution. For example, when the U.S. Congress first convened in 1789, the first order of business was to select a chaplain, con- tinuing the tradition established by the Second Continental Congress where each day’s proceedings was opened with a prayer by a chaplain. Chaplains have long modeled sacrifice and care, reminding others of the importance of human dignity, especially in govern- mental or non-religious institutions.

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As society has grappled with particular challenges, individu- als and groups have increasingly focused their energies and expertise to improve society. Hospitals, the armed forces, law enforcement, jails and prisons are each designed to address critical challenges to the fabric of society. Chaplains in each of these settings specialize on addressing each context’s own hardships, adversities, crises and suffering. Institutional chaplains are thus a highly specialized group

within society who are familiar with diversity; they represent different religions and serve all people — employees as well as clients — in their institutions. Within each type of institution, chaplains experience the unique traumas and strains on human life addressed by their insti- tutions — for example when people get sick or die (healthcare), when a nation arms and sends its citizens to fight (military), or when our courts sentence individuals to secure con- finement (corrections).

10 — March/April 2020 Corrections Today