Inmate Jail Search

Inmate Jail Search – Jail and Prison Ministry – Helpful Hints for Volunteers

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• Be Yourself

1. Appreciate your own value: Don’t underestimate the value of your relationship to the people with whom you will be working. You may be the only real hope they have of ever getting their lives together.

2. Be yourself: Most prisoners can spot a phony almost immediately. They are looking for someone who is genuine, someone they can trust.

3. Be reliable: Keep commitments and appointments you have made and be on time. Keep your word. In a time of crisis nothing is more important than to have a genuine Christian friend who can be counted upon for understanding, love and support. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. It is better to say “no” than to agree and then not deliver.

4. Be patient and courteous: Don’t rush things. Give your relationship time to unfold. You may be the only true friend to enter this person’s life in many years. It will take time to earn their confidence and trust.

Don’t break confidences. Keep private conversations confidential.

5. Be visible: Your presence is a real encouragement, in most cases, to prisoners and staff alike.

6. Learn from your experiences: Be willing to learn from situations. When an activity that seemed like a great idea falls flat, try to evaluate just what went wrong: and, then, store that knowledge away for future planning.

7. Dress and conduct yourself in an appropriate manner. Dress conservatively and casually—nothing calling attention to yourself—but neat and clean. You may want to check with the officials if any kind of “dress code” is enforced. Often, blue jeans are not allowed, neither are sweats.

8. Carry proper identification at all times (driver’s license or California Identification Card).

• Some things to Avoid

9. Don’t ask about the inmate’s crime. It may embarrass the inmate and

shock you in a way that would make it difficult to continue effective ministry with the individual. An exception to this would be after you have built a trust with the inmate and are helping in the process of reestablishing the inmate into the community.

10. Avoid legal entanglements: Don’t get involved in the legal affairs of the inmate, unless requested to by the parole or probation officer. As much as possible avoid discussing the inmate’s court case. Remember the parole or probation officer is in charge and responsible to the court for each case in their care. We must work with and through them at all times. Never give legal advice or contact lawyers.

11. Don’t make any business deals with inmates. Often inmates make money through valid means – artwork, handicrafts, etc. – but there are structured channels through which this must be done in accordance with institutional procedures.

12. Stay on a first name basis with the inmate. Don’t reveal personal information. Do not, under any circumstances, give out your phone number or address. It is wise to use a Post Office box number when possible—or your church’s address. Don’t carry messages: Don’t make phone calls for the prisoner. Don’t deliver any messages or mail any letters, etc. There are proper channels for such things. Expect to be tested in this area. Avoid personal contact with inmate’s families unless given permission to do so by the staff. Learn to say “no”.

13. No physical contact other than handshakes. Although a Godly hug can convey a message of Christian love and acceptance, it is too often misconstrued.

14. Security Issues: The warden’s greatest concern for volunteers is that they will compromise security. For this reason it is important that we have an understanding of the laws and policies that volunteer staff will be expected to follow. These suggestions will help you meet their expectations.

15. Don’t give anything to an inmate and do not take anything from an inmate. Don’t take anything into or take anything from an institution: More security problems are created by contraband entering and leaving the prison than for any other reason. Drugs can be transported even on a sheet of paper. This rule should even include making phone calls for an inmate, because of what may be a subtle code for illegal purposes. Do not take tape recorders or cameras into the correctional facility. Photos and interviews with prisoners are not permitted inside the prison.

16. Policy on hostages. In an unlikely event of an uprising, you cannot expect officials t negotiate or bargain for your safety. This is to your advantage because a no-hostage policy lessens the likelihood that a hostage situation would develop.

• The Spiritual Focus

17. Focus on Jesus Christ. Concentrate your attention and work on the prisoner’s spiritual needs. Our job is to introduce them to Jesus Christ as Lord and to teach them to follow Him.

18. Listen! Do not preach! By listening, you will gain a friend and learn some insights that will help you minister more effectively to their real needs.

19. Watch your Words: Use appropriate language. To use language that is not part of you can label you as a phony. Speak simply and directly. Avoid using Christian clichés.

20. Avoid judging others: Do not be a “reformer”. There is more than one side to every story. Our job is to minister to the spiritual needs.

21. For scheduled Chapel Services or Bible Classes, arrive early, start and end on time.

22. Avoid divisive church doctrines. Keep your visits away from denominational sectarianism. Most prisoners have little church background and will not understand theological differences.

23. Don’t ask about the inmate’s crime. Besides embarrassing the inmate, it may shock you and/or affect your ability to minister to this person. The only exception to this rule is after you have built trusting relationship and are assisting with the inmate’s transition back into society.

• Cooperate with the staff

24. Get to know the staff: Take time to get acquainted with the staff on duty. This will be a wise investment of time that will pay dividends over and over again in the long haul.

25. Make yourself known: Identify yourself as a “volunteer” with the chaplaincy program. This will avoid confusion with “staff counselors” and other staff positions. There is a real value in being a volunteer.

26. Cooperate with the staff: Be cooperative with the staff within each institution. They are in charge and responsible for our welfare. Let them know that you are there to work with them in a supportive role.

27. Always go through established channels. The prison chaplain is your ally and leader. Bring questionable issues to his/her attention.

28. Respect the rules: Each institution has its own particular system of rules and policies. Treat the system with respect and abide by the rules. Don’t be flippant about security. It is for your protection too! Obey the instructions and orders given by the staff. The correctional staff is often suspicious of volunteers. They may see you as a “do-gooder”. Many correctional institutions have seen a history of on again, off again religious programs. Be ready to ask informational questions.

29. Remain in the assigned area, and confine your visit to the allotted time.

30. When in doubt, DON’T! If in doubt about any activity or action that you would like to take, “don’t” until you have time to discuss the situation with someone in authority.

Make each visit a matter of prayer! Be faithful. Minister the Word. Allow the Lord “give the increase”.

• Inmate Locator

To locate an inmate within the California Department of Corrections, please call (916) 445-6713, which is available 24 hours a day. You must have either the inmate’s CDC number, or the inmate’s full name and date of birth to receive information. The Inmate Locator/ID Warrants will provide an inmate’s location, mailing addresses and relevant phone numbers. The Inmate Locator/ID Warrants will not provide any future release date information. Please note that for new or transferring inmates it can take up to seven business days to update location information

Richard R. Blake, Training Coordinator, Follow Up Ministries, Inc., A ParaChurch Prison Ministry

Ok so 3 more posts today that I’ve dug up – I’m an information JUNKIE on this stuff lately. Give em a browse and let me know what ya reckon. They’re just from a few different sites I’ve been surfing lately that are generally good for information like this…

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That’s all the news for today guys, so until next time, thanks for stopping by.

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>> Start An Inmate Jail Search Now and Get RELATIME Results. CLICK HERE