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Chaplaincy, power and prophecy in the Scottish prison system: the changing role of the prison chaplain

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SmithH_1997redux.pdf (44.27Mb)
Date
1997
Author
Smith, Hilary
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Abstract
 
 
The thesis is concerned with the changing role of the prison chaplain in the Scottish prison system and includes an empirical investigation of the current role of chaplaincy
 
The first chapter of the thesis offers some historical perspectives on the role of religion and the role of the prison chaplain at a time in the mid to late 19th century when the role of religion was a primary influence on penal policy and practice. The prison chaplain was regarded along with the governor and the medical officer as one of the 'superior' officers in a penal establishment and his influence was a major one. The chapter summarises briefly how the Christian religion and the role of the prison chaplain became important influences upon penal policy and practice as a possible way ofreforming offenders and reducing crime.
 
By the early years of the 20th century, it had become clear that the Christian religious philosophy which had strongly influenced penal theory and practice in the 19th century had not been effective in the control of crime and the reformation of those who were imprisoned. So it was that the influence of the Christian religion in the penal setting, both in theory and in practice through the work of chaplains, became increasingly discredited. The marginalisation of chaplaincy began to occur and the second chapter discusses the possible reasons for this marginality within the context of developing social, welfare and penal reforms which took place during the latter half of this century.
 
Chapter three looks further at the role of prison chaplaincy during a period of disruption and crisis in the Scottish prison system in the 1980's and early ii 1990's. It summarises the causes and characteristics of the crisis, discusses the nature of the concomitant crisis which occurred in prison chaplaincy and how the Scottish Prison Service and the churches attempted to resolve these crises.
 
Chapters four and five analyse the results of empirical research into the current role and ministry of prison chaplains and how this is understood and regarded by prisoners, prison governors, senior management in the Scottish Prison Service and by church representatives. The results of the empirical research demonstrate that there is considerable uncertainty about the role of the chaplain among chaplains and that there is confusion about their role amongst prisoners, governors and policy makers.
 
In the light of the research, chapter seven outlines some new proposals for the future practice of prison chaplains and the final chapter offers a conclusion to the work.
 
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1842/30771
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