Broome County Council of Churches

Jail Ministry
Putting The Pieces Back Together

Jail Visiting Hours
Guest Speaker Program
Christmas Projects
Donations
Volunteers
Helpful Links
 

So often people make poor choices, which can lead them down roads which can fracture their lives and those around them. In many cases these decisions can result in loss of freedom, health, family, and dignity. The cost is staggering in far more ways than simply in terms of money. The potential and worth of human beings can often be clouded when in fact they are people still created in the image of God. The image might be tarnished or fractured, but the pieces may be able to be put back together and polished. It is the hope of the Jail Ministry that opportunities and help can be provided to restore people back into a right relationship with God, themselves, their loved ones and the community.

The Jail Ministry team is comprised of one full time and one part time staff persons and nearly 100 volunteers who minister to both the needs of those who are incarcerated or recently released, and their families.

The Reverend Cris Mogenson is the program director and Coordinating Chaplain at the Broome County Public Safety Facility. Dorothy Pierce, the Coordinator of Jail Ministry Services, coordinates support services, discharge planning and referrals for those who are soon to be, or recently released. The Jail Chaplains' office staff includes a part-time Muslim Chaplain, Imam Kasim Kopuz, and a part-time Roman Catholic Chaplain, Fr. Stan Gerlock. Often our staff includes ministerial and MSW interns.

The Coordinating Chaplain oversees weekly worship services and classes for the entire jail population as well as pastoral care for both the inmates and staff. A skilled team of volunteers carries out a great deal of work on a daily basis.

Clergy wishing to visit incarcerated parishioners are encouraged to arrange visiting times through the chaplain in order to preserve regular visiting time allotments for loved ones.


During the final days of a sentence, anxiety can run high for inmates. Quite often the temptations that had led into trouble are again clamoring for attention. The Coordinator of Services assists inmates in planning for basic human needs and employment. Upon release, ex-offenders are encouraged to stop by the Council office for follow-up assistance and hygiene items. Often, for those who are not from this area, a one-way bus ticket to return home can be arranged.
The Jail Ministry team was the recipient of the "Phoenix Award" of 2001 from Citizen Action of New York.
 
The Therapeutic Housing Unit
Open only since January 2001, this unit is one of the first of its kind among the nation's county jails. this unit incorporates a multi-disciplinary approach that assists individuals with tools, skills and counseling in order to bring about a more productive, satisfying life and to prevent recidivism (repeat incarcerations). In the first full year of operation, this unit had a recidivism rate of only 17% compared with the usual 60% in the rest of the facility.
The Therapeutic Housing Unit addressed a number of topics, such as:
  • Assistance in job placement and resume writing
  • Anger Management
  • Computer Training
  • Mental Health
  • Spiritual Formation
  • Addiction Counseling & Support Groups
  • Discharge Planning
  • G.E.D. classes & Literacy Skills
  • Art Therapy
  • Living Skills

The Jail Ministry has been extremely active in the planning and staffing of this unit.

The Jail Ministry team is always looking for people from various disciplines that can assist us as guest speakers for the living skills classes.
Volunteers
Nearly 100 volunteers are the backbone of this ministry. These dedicated people conduct many group and individual activities.
Volunteers are always needed to assist in a variety of ways such as:
  • Worship services & Bible study groups
  • Visitation
  • Literacy Programs
  • Life skills
  • 12 step groups
  • Retry services
  • The "Prayerole Board", the official prayer ministry arm of the Jail Ministry
If you are interested in any of these ministries, please contact the chaplain's office at (607) 778-6518, or the Jail Ministry Office at (607) 724-9130 for an application. You may also contact Lt. Wesley Shear, the Programs Officer for the Broome County Public Safety Facility, at (607) 778-2433 for additional information.
Back to Top
Christmas Projects
The Jail Ministry solicits donations annually for a number of Christmastime projects.
  • Each inmate is provided stamped Christmas cards before Christmas so they can send them to their loved ones.
  • A gift box is given to each inmate.
  • Each year a number of inmates are identified who have children who may not receive a gift at Christmas. These children are given books as gifts on behalf of the incarcerated parent.

Donations

We always welcome and are appreciative of donations to the Jail Ministry.

  • If you wish to support Christmas projects, or needs of those recently released, please send your gift to the Council office payable to the "Jail Ministry Discretionary Fund".
  • If you wish to help us purchase scriptures or devotional material for inmates, you may make your check payable to the Broome County Council of Churches with "Jail Ministry Bible Fund" designated on the check.
  • We are always looking for good spiritual books and magazines. These can be new or used but must be soft cover due to security regulations. We will gladly accept dated Sunday school material as well.

  • We are always in need of children's paperback books in any readable condition for our family literacy program. In this program volunteers assist inmates in reading children's books and a recording and the book are sent to their child. This program helps teach literacy and reconnects families.

  • Good condition children's books in hard cover or paperback for our Christmas gift program for children of inmates. These items can be dropped off at the Council of Churches office at 3 Otseningo Street, Binghamton.
  • To support all other Jail Ministry endeavors please make your check payable to the Broome County Council of Churches with "Jail Ministry Bible Fund" designated on the check.

  • If the money is to be used for "other Jail Ministry endeavors", the check needs to be simply designated "Jail Ministry". To make online donations, click here.
 
Your gifts are always appreciated!
 
Guest Speaker Program
Reverend Cris Mogenson is available to local congregations or civic groups to share about the mission and ministry of the program. Chaplain Mogenson is available on Sundays to fill pulpits in the area for those churches that may be in need of coverage. Please contact the Chaplain's Office at (607) 778-6518.
Back to Top
 
BROOME COUNTY SHERIFF'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Some Helpful Links
Are you trying to locate an inmate in the N.Y.S. Department of Corrections (D.O.C.S.) system? Click here to visit the state search site.
The Jail Ministry works very closely with three different agencies. You may find these sites helpful.
Disclosure: Please note. These links are for information purposes only. The inclusion of these links does not imply endorsement, by either the Broome County Council of Churches or any of it's employees and/or affiliates regarding the approval and/or endorsement of philosophies, political alignment, theological orientation, practices or policies of any organization.