Almost a third of chaplains in the federal prison system are non-Christians, data show..“Service levels to other than Christian faiths increased by 66%” over the past decade," the Correctional Service wrote in a report to Parliament..“There is no proportionate shortage of non-Christian members of the Correctional Service’s chaplaincy program,” managers wrote in an Inquiry Of Ministry tabled in the Commons. “Institutional chaplaincy service levels follow a recommended standard.”.According to Blacklock's Reporter, the Inquiry said of 165 chaplains in federal prisons, 69 are Protestants followed by Catholics (48), Muslims (20), Buddhists (10), Jews (seven), Wiccans and Pagans (six), Sikhs (one), Christian Orthodox (one) and Rastafarian (one)..A total 30% of chaplains represented non-Christian faith groups. The figures were requested by Conservative MP Scott Reid (Lanark-Frontenac, ON) who asked, “How many chaplains are presently members of the Correctional Service of Canada chaplaincy program broken down by faith, spiritual or philosophical tradition?”.The Correctional Service sought to “ensure offenders of all faiths receive regular and consistent support to practice their personal beliefs in accordance with their Charter rights and freedoms,” said the Inquiry..“This strategy includes access to site-based chaplains who provide general duty services supporting all offenders regardless of their beliefs.”.The typical federal inmate is a white Christian man, 34, serving a sentence under five years, according to the most recent Corrections And Conditional Release Statistical Overview by the Department of Public Safety. Also, 45% of prisoners identified as Christians, followed by Muslims (7.5%), Buddhists (2%), Wiccans and Pagans (1.5%), Jews (1%), Sikhs (1%), Rastafarians (1%) and Hindus (.3%)..A total of 7% of convicts identify as believers in “traditional Aboriginal spirituality.” The federal prison system spends almost $11 million annually on spiritual healing for indigenous inmates, according to an internal audit..“The Correctional Service contracts elders to provide services to offenders interested in following a traditional healing path, a traditional Aboriginal healing process based on culture and beliefs which encompasses a lifelong spiritual, emotional or psychological journey whereby one strives to be in harmony with all living things on Mother Earth,” said an Audit Of The Management Of Elder Services. A total 125 elders are on contract in addition to the prison chaplaincy service..The federal prison system costs $2.4 billion a year, by official estimate. Costs per inmate average $120,589 a year overall and up to $163,642 for prisoners in maximum security penitentiaries.
Almost a third of chaplains in the federal prison system are non-Christians, data show..“Service levels to other than Christian faiths increased by 66%” over the past decade," the Correctional Service wrote in a report to Parliament..“There is no proportionate shortage of non-Christian members of the Correctional Service’s chaplaincy program,” managers wrote in an Inquiry Of Ministry tabled in the Commons. “Institutional chaplaincy service levels follow a recommended standard.”.According to Blacklock's Reporter, the Inquiry said of 165 chaplains in federal prisons, 69 are Protestants followed by Catholics (48), Muslims (20), Buddhists (10), Jews (seven), Wiccans and Pagans (six), Sikhs (one), Christian Orthodox (one) and Rastafarian (one)..A total 30% of chaplains represented non-Christian faith groups. The figures were requested by Conservative MP Scott Reid (Lanark-Frontenac, ON) who asked, “How many chaplains are presently members of the Correctional Service of Canada chaplaincy program broken down by faith, spiritual or philosophical tradition?”.The Correctional Service sought to “ensure offenders of all faiths receive regular and consistent support to practice their personal beliefs in accordance with their Charter rights and freedoms,” said the Inquiry..“This strategy includes access to site-based chaplains who provide general duty services supporting all offenders regardless of their beliefs.”.The typical federal inmate is a white Christian man, 34, serving a sentence under five years, according to the most recent Corrections And Conditional Release Statistical Overview by the Department of Public Safety. Also, 45% of prisoners identified as Christians, followed by Muslims (7.5%), Buddhists (2%), Wiccans and Pagans (1.5%), Jews (1%), Sikhs (1%), Rastafarians (1%) and Hindus (.3%)..A total of 7% of convicts identify as believers in “traditional Aboriginal spirituality.” The federal prison system spends almost $11 million annually on spiritual healing for indigenous inmates, according to an internal audit..“The Correctional Service contracts elders to provide services to offenders interested in following a traditional healing path, a traditional Aboriginal healing process based on culture and beliefs which encompasses a lifelong spiritual, emotional or psychological journey whereby one strives to be in harmony with all living things on Mother Earth,” said an Audit Of The Management Of Elder Services. A total 125 elders are on contract in addition to the prison chaplaincy service..The federal prison system costs $2.4 billion a year, by official estimate. Costs per inmate average $120,589 a year overall and up to $163,642 for prisoners in maximum security penitentiaries.
