General Guidelines for Kairos Volunteers Entering Any Correctional Institutions

The resident needs to know you can be trusted to care for him/her and that you will not fall for games he/she will try to play with you.

Follow precisely the instructions of the Chaplain. Your visit is an extension of the Chaplain's services.

Obey the rules of the institution - if in doubt about an action, defer it until you can get clarification from an institutional staff member.

General Relationships

Ø      Do not smuggle anything into, or out of, the institution,

Ø      No volunteer may be on the visitor's list of any resident, within the institution.

Ø      No metal (including notebook spirals) or glass objects may be brought in.

Ø      Do not give or accept anything from a resident.

Ø      Do not purchase anything from a resident.

Ø      Do not pass messages from a resident to others outside or vice versa.

Ø      Do not mail letters or packages for a resident.

Ø      Religious materials of any kind must come in through the Chaplain.

Ø      Avoid any financial involvement. Do not give residents money.

Ø      Do not get involved with a resident's family.

Ø      Avoid plying into a resident's life of crime.

Ø      Avoid joining a resident in criticizing authorities, police, court, institutions, etc.

Ø      Do not defend a resident's crime or failures.

Ø      Avoid involvement in a resident's legal matters.

Ø      Treat residents, officers and staff with respect and love.

Ø      Encourage healthy attitudes and behavior.

Ø      Be honest in your relationship with residents, while guarding your own privacy.

Ø      Avoid any appearance of romantic interest in residents. Never be alone in the same room.

Ø      Evidence of serious misconduct should be reported to a staff member.

Spiritual Relationships

Ø     Recognize your limitations, acknowledging that with God's help you can make a difference.

Ø     Evaluate your motivations. Be sincere in reaching out to residents. Glorify God. Listen and care.

Ø     Appreciate officers and other staff member's responsibilities.

Ø     Present God's love, understanding, forgiveness, and acceptance.

Ø     Present God's holiness and your capacity to relate to God.

Ø     Present need for discipleship and how it disciplines your daily conduct.

Ø     Encourage relating to others in constructive ways and commitment to God's control.

Ø     Avoid suggesting a cheap form of grace: - As though it doesn't matter how one conducts him/herself since God forgives. - As though spiritual vitality were indicated by emotional display. - As though exercise of a particular gift were the ultimate in religious experience,

Ø     Avoid putting down the theological concepts or practices of others.

Ø     Say everything in the love of Christ.

Ø     Seek answers in the Bible when offering guidance.

Entering the Hughes Unit

1.      Take in to the unit only the clothes on your back, your car keys, and your driver’s license. If you don’t have a driver’s license, you must provide some other form of ID with your picture on it.  

2.      Do not dress in anything white, no matter how good you look in white.

3.      You must wear a shirt with a collar. T-shirts are acceptable only as under garments. You cannot wear any article of clothing with a logo, slogan, or clever message of any kind. You cannot wear shorts. You cannot wear sandals without socks. Women will not be allowed in if they are dressed provocatively in tight or revealing clothing.

4.      Tobacco is forbidden. Also, do not bring in any gum, candy, or any other confections - even if you have enough to share with the entire “class”.

5.      Outside team members should not bring in any medications.

6.      Do not bring in any books, magazines, or other printed material. Kairos is not a Bible study course, and the only Bible we need will already be in the room.

7.      The uniformed personnel inside the unit are corrections officers. They are not guards, and should never be referred to as such. Address them as officer.

8.      Be aware that our first consideration, inside the unit, is for the security of the unit. Corrections officers are to be obeyed immediately and without question.  In the event of a dangerous situation, they will more than likely order everyone to lie on the floor. Do not take the time to explain that you just bought some article of clothing, and do not want to get it dirty. Just hit the floor and anticipate paying a cleaning bill.