Associate Jail Chaplain (Part-time)

Hamilton County Sheriff''s Office; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Hamilton County Sheriff's Office in Tennessee seeks an Associate Jail Chaplain to support the jail’s spiritual and secular programs. The role works under the Jail Chaplain to engage volunteers and community resources, ensuring inmates have access to pastoral care and related services.

The position requires ordination and at least three years of full-time ministry, with a recommendation from a pastor. A Bachelor’s degree is preferred but not mandatory; the role emphasizes compassionate

Qualifications

• Ordination required.
• Three years of full-time ministry as Pastor/Minister or Assistant Pastor/Minister.
• Recommendation from a Pastor/Minister.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning, directing, and administering all programs (spiritual and secular) in the jail.
• Assist in screening and training volunteers from represented faith groups.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community resources relevant to the role.
• Ensure administrative paperwork is completed and filed timely.
• Facilitate crisis interventions and conduct regular inmate visits to explain services.

Skills

Spiritual knowledge

Criminal justice knowledge

Pastoral counseling

Interpersonal skills

Oral and written communications

Ethics and confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU SHOULD CONTACT HCSO HUMAN RESOURCES AT 423-209-6996 or 423-209-7014.

DEFINITION

It is the desire that the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has and supports a Correction’s Chaplaincy program. Under the administrative direction of the Jail Chaplain who will insure that the Chaplaincy program has active support from religious bodies’ representative of the population’s diverse needs, and helps to ensure the effective ministry of the jail’s volunteers. The Associate Chaplain shall share responsibility for all programs in the jail both spiritual and secular; and performs related duties as assigned.

The Associate Jail Chaplain must meet and maintain requirements set by their particular faith group and maintain ties with their religious faith group for purposes of support, vocational identity, accountability, evaluation and fellowship. Chaplains are those who are ordained or have parallel designation by their faith group. The chaplain is thus authorized for religious ministry within jails or prisons as designated representative of their faith group. The Associate Jail Chaplain will also participate in a network of other faith groups in the community. As a pluralistic environment, Rabbis, Ministers, Imams and Priests and lay persons may serve inmates in the jail as emissaries of their own faith groups and as an extension of the chaplain without discrimination.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Assists the Jail Chaplain in the planning, direction, and administering all aspects of programs, both spiritual and secular in the Hamilton County Detention Center with other designated professional staff. The Associate also assist the Jail Chaplain in the approval, training and acceptance of all lay and clergy volunteers from faiths represented by the inmate population. Assists the Jail Chaplain in the development and maintenance of close working relationships with all community resources relative to the areas of responsibility.

Assists the Jail Chaplain in ensuring that all administrative paperwork is completed and filed in a timely manner.

Assists the Jail Chaplain in the facilitation of crisis interventions in the facility with other designated professionals, and also conducts daily visits to inmates to insure their understanding of available services both spiritual and secular. Responds to inmate requests and grievances as required. Assists in pre-release counseling with reentry professionals and helps with inmate re-entry into the community.

Experience

1. Must be ordained.
2. Must have three (3) years of full time experience in the ministry as a Pastor/Minister and/or as an Assistant Pastor/Minister
3. Must present a recommendation from a Pastor/Minister with whom or under whom the applicant has worked.

Education

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferred but not required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This classification involves working in a correctional facility to provide positive opportunities for inmates to develop social and emotional skills. The risk factor is low. Applicant should be in good health and be able to respond to an emergency situation. The classification includes the possibility for exposure to blood borne pathogens. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office promotes a drug/alcohol-free work environment through the use of pre-employment and random drug testing.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Spiritual knowledge for teaching and ministering.
Knowledge of the criminal justice system.
Knowledge of the principles of and the practice of the classification of inmates.
Knowledge of computers and the use of Microsoft word and excel.
Knowledge of pastoral counseling.
Knowledge of and application of the Constitutional rights to worship for all inmates within the parameter of security and policy restriction which have been upheld by the courts.
Skill in interacting with people of different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
Skill in oral and written communications.
Skill in maintaining objectivity and confidentiality in dealing with inmates.
Skill in maintaining one’s personal and professional standards and ethics.
Skills in grief counselling.
Demonstrates respect for all inmates and staff members.
May not accept fees or gratuities from inmates or their families for services rendered.
May not consent to marry inmates in or out of the jail.