A prison chaplain is a religious leader who provides spiritual guidance and support to inmates in correctional facilities. They are responsible for meeting the religious needs of inmates and leading religious services. In addition to religious duties, prison chaplains also provide pastoral counseling, lead group counseling sessions, and provide emotional support to inmates. They may also supervise volunteers and administer various programs. Some of the main roles of a prison chaplain include:

• Administrator: Advising correctional staff on religious issues and related policies, supervising inmates to help maintain security, and advocating for inmates (e.g. religious protections/exemptions) to the institution, especially in regards to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

• Advocate: Advocating for inmates and their families, and providing support and counseling for correctional staff.

• Pastoral Counselor: Providing pastoral counseling to inmates, listening to their concerns, and helping them identify what they did wrong and create new behaviors and habits that ensure they will not commit these types of acts when they leave prison.

• Educator: Teaching religious subjects and other helpful relational topics such as conflict-resolution skills.

Prison chaplains are professionals with specialized training in the unique dynamics of the corrections world. They must have an ecumenical and interfaith spirit and use spiritual discernment to balance religious needs and security. They also need people skills to communicate effectively with treatment staff, correctional officers, and inmates.