ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, REHABILITATION & REENTRY

Address:

Arizona State Prison Complex (ASPC) - Lewis

26700 South Highway 85

Buckeye, AZ 85326

 https://corrections.az.gov/

Salary:

DEACON LEVEL/NO DEGREE: $23.0770 - $48,000.00

JOURNEY LEVEL/BACHELOR'S DEGREE: $24.8078 - $51,600.00

CLINICAL LEVEL/MASTER'S DEGREE: $26.5385 - $55,200.00 

Grade: 17

Closing Date: 07/22/2025

Are you called to provide spiritual and emotional support?

The Arizona Department of Correction, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR) is seeking a Full-Time Chaplain I to guide religious development and counseling for inmates and their families.
This position also provides religious development, conducts religious services and delivers messages, coordinates volunteer activities by local church groups and visiting clergy, writes reports, prepares articles and maintains records at the Arizona State Prison Complex - Lewis.

This is your call, Apply today!

- Visits and counsels inmates in their living spaces or other places of routine activity including isolation/detention areas and inmates in protective segregation
- Receives and responds to requests from inmates for special religious services, diets or privileges, evaluating the requests in consideration of religious requirements, policy mandates, and institutional demands in conjunction with the supervising chaplain
- Consults and advices Deputy Wardens and the supervising chaplain for direction on appropriate responses to institutional staff, contractors, volunteers, inmates and the public regarding religious issues and questions
- Receives and responds to queries from the public regarding religious programming, privileges, donations and pastoral visits
- Receives information and advises inmate and inmate families regarding deaths and/or serious illnesses and overnight hospitalization of inmate and/or family members
- Advises the supervising chaplain of all religious programming for the unit, evaluating current religious services and determining the need for any changes, expansion or deletions in the service schedule
- Advises the Deputy Warden, security and other staff on spiritual issues that directly affect the inmates at the assigned unit
- Consults with supervising chaplain for consistency and continuity with the Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry, interacts with the religious community on behalf of the institution/agency
- Attends various chaplain’s meetings and daily/weekly institutional management meetings as directed
- Conducts religious services and religious studies, memorial services, and other services as directed by the supervising Chaplain for the benefit of the inmates and/or staff
- Monitors and documents performance and compliance of religious volunteers who are on site to conduct religious services
- May be required to drive on state business
- Performs other duties appropriate to the assignment

Knowledge of:
- Principles and practices of pastoral care and counseling
- Communication techniques
- Public relations techniques
- Religions represented in the inmate population, including major tenets, religious service requirements, religious property requirements and dietary requirements
- Religious publications or holy books pertinent to a variety of religions
- Policies and procedures related to operational security requirements, personal computers and software sufficient to perform daily tasks
- Departmental policies as they apply to inmate grooming, litigation, and discipline

Skill in:
- Written and verbal communication
- Interpreting and assimilating information
- Public speaking
- Conflict resolution
- Analyzing complex situations
- Stress management
- Problem solving
- Crisis intervention
- Teaching
- Pastoral counseling
- Interpersonal relations

Ability to:
- Work in a prison environment and provide religious counseling and education to inmates
- Establish solid working relationships
- Communicate effectively
- Resolve conflicts
- Operate a computer

- Minimum of one (1) unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
- Journey level + Bachelor’s degree from accredited institution
- Clinical level + Master’s degree from an accredited seminary or school of theology with a major in religion, Pastoral care, religious counseling or related field and two (2)years supervised pastoral training

Employment is contingent on the selected applicant passing a background investigation and drug test.

Candidates MUST present proof of license or ordination or certification from their faith group at the time of application.

In an effort to maintain a safe environment, all employees are required to take a Tuberculosis (TB) test during their New Employee Orientation and every year thereafter.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, then the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

We offer an excellent and affordable comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees:
- Vacation and sick days with 10 paid holidays per year
- Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
- Robust and affordable insurance plan to include medical, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability options
- Exceptional retirement program
- Optional employee benefits such as deferred compensation plans, credit union membership, and a wellness program
- An incentivized commuter club and public transportation subsidy program

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).

Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

Current ADCRR Employees: Consult with your respective Human Resources Liaison if you are in a different retirement plan than the one indicated above.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 255-2430. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.