The Role of Community Chaplaincy in Supporting Desistance from Crime

Main Contact: Jane Dominey

Community chaplaincies are voluntary sector faith based organisations that support people on their release from prison and then for as long as needed as they re-settle into the community. The work of community chaplaincy harnesses the resources that are available within faith communities, most particularly volunteers who give their time as mentors to support those who are seeking to make a fresh start after leaving prison. Community chaplaincies are multi-faith and work with offenders of all faiths and none.

This piece of research was commissioned by the Community Chaplaincy Association and has the following objectives, to:

Examine the key factors in the approach taken by Community Chaplaincy.
Highlight those factors that represent ‘added value’ above the routine practice of post-release supervision.
Assess the extent to which these factors are congruent with the principles associated with ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ desistance.

The report is available here