Letter to the editor.

In the August 2003 edition of Corrections Today, an article was published regarding chaplaincy in correctional facilities ["Chaplaincy: Facing New and Old Challenges"]. We at the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) would like to respond to several of the points made in the article.

In 1993, the Colorado State Legislature voted to de-fund prison chaplains. At that time, CDOC employed 16 full-time chaplains. This number was reduced to eight through 1995, when all paid full-time chaplain positions were eliminated.

Knowing how important the chaplaincy was to the proper operation of prisons, CDOC's administration began recruiting professional chaplains from local communities and professional prison ministries to administer to inmates' spiritual needs and facilitate religious programming in the facilities. Some of the chaplains who previously were paid employees became "volunteer chaplains" funded by outside sources.

Currently, CDOC has 23 professional chaplains who average 32 hours per week in facilities, and eight who average 20 hours per week. These prison chaplains are exceptionally well-trained and qualified. Our chaplains go through training specific to prison chaplaincy, as well as complete our Training Academy. They are dedicated professionals committed to serving all inmates and denominations. These volunteers are not paid by the state of Colorado and are in the state's prisons because they have a desire to promote the spiritual welfare of the inmates and our communities.

CDOC's chaplains are indispensable members of our team who provide critical services to both inmates and employees. They provide services and support to offenders with a wide range of religious ideologies and needs, with professionalism, compassion and integrity. They frequently go above and beyond the call of duty and have become an integral part of our organization, assisting staff, offenders and the public during times of crisis. These individuals have a heightened sense of responsibility and respond to a higher calling, which benefits the entire department.

CDOC has flourished with the volunteer chaplain program. Our inmates have received broader services from the volunteer chaplains. It is shortsighted in these difficult budget times to infer that a state paycheck guarantees quality of service.

Joe Ortiz is executive director of the Colorado Department of Corrections.