• The service offered by chaplaincy is strictly voluntary. Every prisoner has the right to access these services or not use them. So the responsibility is on the offender.  He/she must take advantage of the services being offered by the chaplain and that is more then just going to church on Sunday or whatever day these services are held.  It is important to remember that although CSC provides money to help pay for the chaplain, he/she is not an employee of CSC, but of their faith group and are therefore in a position of not having to write reports or keep detailed records which become part of the offenders' file.  They can write letters of support for the offenders they work closely with, but only at the request of the offender and only after the offender is aware of what is in the letter. So it is very important if the offender wishes to have support while in prison and upon release that they come to the safety of the chapel and get to know the chaplains and allow them to know you.

• Once the relationship between chaplain and offender inside is established the chaplain is in a better position to recommend a strategy to succeed upon release.  Often this will involve the contacting of a Community Chaplain, if there is one in the area the offender will be released to. The Community Chaplains are there to help offenders; find work, access food banks, find a place to live, many have clothing depots, etc.  They are not there to be touches for money.  Most Community Chaplains salaries are barely enough to keep them alive.  They do it out of a sense of calling and for some it is their way of giving back.  Some of the Community Chaplains are ex-offenders themselves who have made it on the outside and have the ability to share what helped them.  So not only are they there for practical things like food, clothing and shelter but also they can help you find your way to a crime free life style.  But again and this is important, the responsibility is the offenders to make use of these services.  On one is going to force you to make contact with the Community Chaplain when you are released, that is your responsibility.  The help is there but you have to take the first step and reach out and take the hand that is reaching out to you.