The mission of Richmond Sheriff’s Chaplains is to provide, from a multi-faith perspective, pastoral care, religious instruction, spiritual guidance, worship opportunities, and other related services. Chaplains serve residents of the Richmond City Jail, and, Officers, Deputies, and Staff of the Richmond City Sheriff’s Office and their families.

The ministry of Richmond Sheriff’s Chaplains does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, creed, criminal offense, economic status, education, disability, gender, history of incarceration, national origin, race, or sexual orientation.

Possessed of the vision that a partnership with faith based institutions could be of real benefit in meeting the needs of Jail residents, Sheriff C. T. Woody appointed the Rev. Canon Dr. Alonzo C. Pruitt, an Episcopal priest, to serve as Executive Director of Richmond Sheriff’s Chaplains in March, 2006.

Working with a team of more than 80 volunteer Chaplains that includes representatives of numerous faiths and denominations, including Baptists, Christian Scientists, Episcopalians, Evangelicals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Methodists, the Nation of Islam, Non-Denominationalists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, and Sunni Muslims, Chaplain Pruitt provides direct services to Jail residents and supervises the multiple worship services, Bible and Koran studies, and pastoral care programs that are offered in the Jail each week.

Chaplains have raised funds to repaint the renamed Redemption Chapel and the Jail’s main entryway in keeping with the Sheriff’s action plan to enhance the Jail for residents, staff, families, and visitors. Recent efforts included a Jazz Benefit and a Prayer Breakfast at which 24 Chaplains and 4 faith-based institutions were especially acknowledged for extraordinary commitment and dedication.

Richmond Sheriff’s Chaplains have added a weekly 12-Step Recovery meeting for Jail residents and monthly worship services for deputies and staff on each of the three shifts that work at the Jail. Chaplains also serve at both the John Marshall Court House and the Manchester Courthouse.

The recipients of strong community support, Chaplains receive donations of Bibles, Spanish language Bibles and periodicals, Korans, books, magazines, envelopes, stamps, underwear, socks, reading glasses, and other items needed by Jail residents. A cooperative program with St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and the Central Virginia Food Bank regularly results in the distribution of extra foodstuffs which Jail residents have come to greatly enjoy.

Given the Sheriff’s innovative support, Chaplains assist Jail residents in observing cultural and religious holidays including Easter, Ramadan, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas, and plans are underway to expand the number of faith-based institutions that will offer music in the Jail in the coming year.

Given an agreement with the Department of Social Work at Virginia Union University, Life Coaches will regularly be available to enhance the work of Deputies and Staff, and a seminarian from the Union School of Theology / The Presbyterian School of Christian Education is also among those who regularly counsel Jail residents.

Chaplains also assist in the graduation ceremonies of new deputies, birthday and retirement celebrations for staff, and in notifying and counseling Jail residents who experience the death of a loved one.