SO Jail Chaplain

Compensation Range

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Job Description Summary

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Job Description

Religious Accommodations - 15%

• The chaplain ensures that inmates have access to religious services literature and dietary accommodations as mandated by legal precedent including the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). Proper administration of these rights mitigates potential legal challenges and ensures institutional compliance.
• The Chaplain is responsible for the oversight of inmate religious programming to include but not limited to recruitment supervision training and scheduling of both lay and clergy volunteers at the Weld County Jail.
• The Chaplain will assure equal status and protection of all religions.
• The Chaplain reviews and responds to all inmate requests related to religious matters and accommodations to include religious materials practices and diets.
• The Chaplain assists offenders with their spiritual needs coordinates religious activities within the facility maintains open lines of communication with the faith communities and operates with the goal of connecting inmates to community-based faith groups upon their release.
• The Chaplain will ensure all religious activities and related decisions are consistent with constitutionally protected rights of incarcerated inmates.
• The Chaplain will work with Inmate Services and Jail Leadership to ensure the proper balance between religious expression and safety in the Detentions setting.
• The Chaplain reports directly to the Inmate Services Director Weld County Sheriffs Office.
• The Chaplain will communicate effectively orally and in writing maintain the trust and confidence of superiors and follow all directives.
• The Chaplain will consult with and regularly update the Inmate Services Director and Custody Staff regarding all aspects of the religious program provided in the facility.
• The Chaplain will be responsible to develop and maintain a comprehensive volunteer program.

Management of Religious Volunteers - 15%

• The chaplain is responsible for screening training and managing religious volunteers who provide faith-based services to inmates. This oversight ensures that volunteers adhere to security protocols and align with facility policies reducing liability risks associated with unsupervised religious activities.
• The Chaplin will develop and maintain working relationships with the faith-based community and religious organizations to achieve the goal of ongoing community support for inmates integrating back into the community. The Chaplain will work with the faith-based community to solicit donations of religious material for all faiths as appropriate for and in compliance with facility rules.
• A volunteer file will be maintained for each active volunteer.
• The file will contain the following: Volunteer Application Criminal History Record Volunteer Notification Contract evidence of orientation participation training documentation documentation of all contacts between the Chaplain and volunteer all performance corrective actions the number of hours volunteered the dates and housing units of bible study groups conducted and the number of inmate participants.
• Volunteer files will be audited annually by the Inmate Services Director for compliance.
• The Chaplain will supervise all religious volunteers.
• Each volunteer will be contacted quarterly at a minimum and four times annually.
• One of the quarterly contacts may include direct observation of the volunteer conducting religious study with inmates.
• The other quarterly contacts may be in person or by phone.
• The purpose of contacts is to determine if the volunteer needs assistance training material content and presentation has questions issues needing to be resolved or mentoring by the Chaplain.
• All contacts will be documented in the volunteer file.
• The Chaplain will facilitate annual Criminal History checks of each volunteer. The Chaplain will contact the Inmate Services Director to complete Criminal History checks.
• The Chaplain will verify and authorize all visiting community clergy entering the facility.
• All initial clergy visits must be requested by the Inmate.
• All subsequent visits may be requested by clergy or an inmate after the initial visit.
• Inmates must have had an ongoing relationship with said clergy person prior to coming into custody.
• Prior to authorizing clergy the Chaplin will obtain the following from the clergy: A copy of faith endorsement/licensure and a copy of state drivers license.
• The Chaplin will verify clergy through religious organization.
• The Chaplain will facilitate a Criminal History check through internal processes.
• The Chaplain will provide an orientation session prior to authorizing clergy to meet with an inmate in a professional visiting room.
• The Chaplain will maintain a current Volunteer Calendar.
• All volunteers are assigned to specific housing units and housing unit assignments will be changed annually.
• The Chaplin will prepare the Volunteer Calendar for the following year by December 15th of the current calendar year and submit it to the Inmate Services Director for approval.
• Volunteers will be notified of housing unit assignment changes to be implemented on January 1st of each year.
• The Chaplain will provide a mandatory volunteer training session once per year for all religious volunteers.
• Additional training sessions may be scheduled as needed.
• Agendas will be pre-approved by the Inmate Services Director.
• The Chaplain will provide and conduct Volunteer Orientation sessions as needed. Orientations will be preapproved by the Inmate Services Director.
• The Chaplain will facilitate an annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony.
• The agenda and budget for the ceremony will be preapproved by the Inmate Services Director.

Policy Development and Decision-Making - 15%

• As the religious liaison within the facility the chaplain contributes to policy formulation regarding religious practices and accommodations. They provide informed guidance on religious matters ensuring that institutional policies align with both legal requirements and operational needs.
• Religious accommodations will be investigated within 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) which may include an interview of the inmate research of prior institutional history current information theological reasons used for findings information for determining findings and recommendation. Documentation will be presented to the Inmate Services Director for review.
• If an inmate is approved for a religious diet the Chaplain will be responsible for completing the Religious Diet Participation Agreement and to monitor the inmates compliance.
• All monitoring will be documented in the facility computer system.
• If an inmate is non-compliant the Chaplain is responsible for completing the Religious Diet Non-Compliance Report.
• All religious material (i.e. text) denied by the Chaplain will be noted on the Inmate Request Form and documented in computer system with a thorough explanation as to why the request was denied.
• The Chaplain is responsible for responding to Step 1 grievances related to religious accommodations. Grievance responses are expected to be completed within ten working days and will be submitted to the Inmate Services Director for review prior to issuance.

Consultation and Crisis Response - 15%

• The chaplain often serves as a counselor for inmates during times of personal crisis providing spiritual and emotional support that contributes to inmate well-being and institutional critical situations the chaplains presence can de-escalate conflicts and provide a stabilizing influence.
• The Chaplain will provide crisis short-term pastoral care when requested by an inmate. Pastoral care will not include mental health or substance abuse counseling.
• Inmates with mental health or substance abuse counseling issues will be referred to the facility mental health staff JBBS staff or staffed with the Inmate Services Director.
• All pastoral care sessions will be documented in the facility computer consistent with the confidentially associated with pastoral care in balance with the safety and security interests in a Detentions setting.
• The Chaplain is a mandatory reporter defined by Colorado State Statute(2)(z).
• During scheduled hours the Chaplain will complete death verifications and notifications.

Administrative Duties - 15%

• The chaplain is responsible to record and document actions taken related to religious accommodations requests religious volunteer training and scheduling Grievance Responses monthly quarterly and annual reporting.
• The Chaplain will provide the following statistical reports to the Director of Inmate Services:
• January 15th previous year annual report summarizing the services volunteers provide to the facility. The report includes but is not limited to the number of volunteers hours of service number of inmates served Chaplain services provided summary of accomplishments and goals for the next year.
• Quarterly- quarterly statistics for the Inmate Services Director regarding all services provided by religious volunteers. The statistics will be due April 15th July 15th October 15th and January 15th for the preceding quarters. Statistics will include volunteer hours number of religious groups provided and the number of attendees.
• 15th of each month monthly summary of chaplain services provided for the preceding month. This report will be attached to payment for services and detail the number of religious diets/accommodations investigated outcome number of inmate requests type of request and outcome number of death notifications number of bible studies completed/attempted but not completed and reason number of inmate crisis pastoral counseling faith based community contacts volunteers contacted training and orientation provided and other pertinent information regarding duties the Chaplain has performed.
• The Chaplain will accurately and thoroughly document all inmate contacts in the facility computer system.
• All documentation will be completed on the date of service.
• Documentation content will be of such quality sufficient to provide reasonable evidence enabling a future response to an inmate grievance and/or to defend potential future inmate litigation.

Pastoral Care and Religious Studies - 25%

• The chaplain is responsible for short-term pastoral care when requested by an inmate and provide religious studies for inmates in housing units where volunteers are not allowed or cannot be accommodated
• The Chaplain will directly provide religious studies for inmates in housing units where volunteers are not allowed or cannot be accommodated.
• In these housing units the Chaplain will provide no more than two (2) religious studies per week per housing unit unless approved by the Inmate Service Director.
• The ongoing goal should be recruiting volunteers when possible to provide this service.

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Required Qualifications

Required Education

• Theology degree from an accredited seminary/bachelors degree in biblical counseling / Bachelor of Divinity or Clinical Pastoral Education or equivalent specialized training and endorsement by the appropriate religious certifying body.

Experience Qualifications

• 5 years of formal religious pastoral/counseling experience.
• Demonstrated success in coordinating oversight of religious programming to include but not limited to recruitment supervision training and scheduling of groups and maintaining constructive working relationship with peers volunteers superiors and clergy within the community representing various faiths.
• Demonstrated success in record keeping professional documentation and statistical reporting.

Preferred Experience

• Religious counseling experience with incarcerated individuals is preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Interpersonal communication to deal effectively with and persuade people of differing backgrounds and behavior patterns in a wide range of settings
• Must have the ability to read write and speak English
• Effectively plan problem-solve and perform as a member of a work group
• Basic math skills including addition subtraction multiplication and division using whole numbers fractions and decimals; and the ability to count sort and categorize inventory items.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Define and analyze a problem develop a range of possible solutions identify and implement most appropriate solution and monitor results
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written oral diagram schedule form.
• Ability to operate telephones computer terminal keyboard photocopier and printer/scanning instrumentation.
• Ability to use warehouse equipment.
• Independent reference skills to locate accurate information quickly
• Candidate must pass criminal background check prior to employment start date.

Licenses and Certifications

• Current certificate of ordination from governing body.
• Acknowledgement that the role of Chaplain is non-denominational the candidate must with clear conscience serve the needs of all inmates of all religious beliefs and affiliations.
• Affirmation by the ordination or supervising authority that the candidate has not been the subject of a sustained complaint (administrative or criminal) of abuse neglect sexual assault or sexual harassment of a parishioner congregant attendee or any individual that would be considered as at-risk or where the candidate acted in a position of trust.
• Pre-employment substance screening is required for this position.
• This position is subject to a pre-employment drug screening. Employment is contingent upon successfully passing the screening in accordance with Weld County policy.

As an applicant for this position you should be aware of Senate Bill 19-085 the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The act requires employers to announce the pay range for job openings.

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County is an equal employment opportunity employer. We ensure that all employment practices are conducted without regard to race color religion sex national origin age disability status marital status sexual orientation gender identity or expression genetic information protected veteran status or any other protected status in accordance with federal state and local laws. Weld County pledges to uphold a work environment free from discrimination and harassment promoting fairness and dignity for all employees. We actively take affirmative action to comply with nondiscrimination policies and invite qualified individuals in need of reasonable accommodations to contact our Human Resources Department ator.