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
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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.
