MISSION STATEMENT:
To respond with compassion and support of all Faiths in need of Spiritual guidance or Pastoral Counseling during a time of personal crisis.

VISION STATEMENT:
The role of the Chaplain within the MCSO setting focuses on the spiritual care and nurturing of people. The responsibility of the Chaplain is to up hold the dignity and worth of each individual. Persons of faith profess by their actions that our God is a God of unconditional love and forgiveness. In many religions, the care and nurturing by religious leaders has been compared to the work of a shepherd. The faith leader knows and recognizes the individual sheep. The Chaplain offers spiritual guidance and is alert to help people in times of trial or crisis. In this sense, the Chaplain is indeed a shepherd or pastor and the flock is the inmates, staff, community and the detention setting itself.
The Chaplains’ Unit of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office provides spiritual programs to all inmates. Volunteers from area churches and religious organizations, come into the Mecklenburg County Jail to provide a variety of spiritual enrichment opportunities including religious services, individual counseling and spiritual study.
All volunteers must pass a criminal background check and attend Fundamentals of Working in a Jail as well as a General Orders Class before entering the MCSO Facilities. Anyone interested in volunteering with the Chaplains’ Unit can contact Brenda Rubiano - Volunteer Coordinator at 704-336-8143.

Guidelines for Clergy Visitations

The term Clergy includes pastor, associate pastor, priest, imam or an approved representative of an approved pastor or church.

1. Clergy may visit an inmate only one time each week.

2. Inmates can receive only one clergy visit per week.

3. Clergy that are related to an inmate may not use their clergy status to visit that inmate.

4. Visitation is non-contact.

5. Clergy visitation is allowed Monday-Friday during the following times:

8:00 – 11:00 a.m.
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
8:00 -10:00 p.m.


Reasons for termination of clergy status and revocation of MCSO clergy credentials:

1. Clergy members must conduct themselves in an orderly manner. If you are deemed to be unruly and/or are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol you will be denied visitation and your credentials will be confiscated immediately.

2. Clergy credentials will be revoked for one year. You may still visit the inmate as a general member of the public.