72.01.210 - Institutional chaplains -- Appointment -- Qualifications. - Washington Statutes

Institutional chaplains — Appointment — Qualifications.

(1) The secretary of corrections shall appoint institutional chaplains for the state correctional institutions for convicted felons. Institutional chaplains shall be appointed as employees of the department of corrections. The secretary of corrections may further contract with chaplains to be employed as is necessary to meet the religious needs of those inmates whose religious denominations are not represented by institutional chaplains and where volunteer chaplains are not available.

     (2) Institutional chaplains appointed by the department of corrections under this section shall have qualifications necessary to function as religious program coordinators for all faith groups represented within the department. Every chaplain so appointed or contracted with shall have qualifications consistent with community standards of the given faith group to which the chaplain belongs and shall not be required to violate the tenets of his or her faith when acting in an ecclesiastical role.

     (3) The secretary of social and health services shall appoint chaplains for the correctional institutions for juveniles found delinquent by the juvenile courts; and the secretary of corrections and the secretary of social and health services shall appoint one or more chaplains for other custodial, correctional, and mental institutions under their control.

     (4) Except as provided in this section, the chaplains so appointed under this section shall have the qualifications and shall be compensated in an amount as recommended by the appointing department and approved by the Washington personnel resources board.

[2008 c 104 § 3; 1993 c 281 § 62; 1981 c 136 § 69; 1979 c 141 § 154; 1967 c 58 § 1; 1959 c 33 § 1; 1959 c 28 §72.01.210 . Prior: 1955 c 248 § 1. Formerly RCW 72.04.160.]

Notes: Finding -- 2008 c 104: "The legislature finds that men and women who are incarcerated have the need to develop prosocial behaviors. These behaviors will better enable these men and women to fully participate in society and adhere to law-abiding behaviors, such as continuing treatment that is undertaken in prison, once the person is released in the community.

     Living in an environment where foundational skills are modeled and encouraged fosters positive outcomes for people who have been convicted and sentenced for their crimes. Basic skills include positive decision making, personal responsibility, building a healthy community, religious tolerance and understanding, ethics and morality, conflict management, family life relationships, leadership, managing emotions, restorative justice, transitional issues, and spirituality. Learning and practicing how to overcome minor and significant obstacles in a positive way will prepare offenders who are returning to our communities to begin their new crime-free lives." [2008 c 104 § 1.]

Effective date -- 1993 c 281: See note following RCW 41.06.022.

Housing allowance for state-employed chaplains: RCW 41.04.360.

Washington personnel resources board: RCW 41.06.110.