James Stogner, who has been a correctional chaplain for 25 years, is responsible for leading approximately 50 chaplains serving at 38 CoreCivic facilities across the country.

As the director of chaplaincy and volunteer services, Stogner is devoted to his chosen profession because it enables him to serve where he believes spiritual guidance is needed most.

“Chaplains are purveyors of grace, shining the light of hope into dark places,” he said.

Recently, in partnership with the Biblical Counselors Society (BCS), a chaplains’ forum called “Back to Basics” was launched on the BCS website, aimed at supporting correctional chaplaincy.

Back to Basics is a hub where CoreCivic chaplains can access tools and resources for improving the soul care they provide to residents each day, covering topics such as dealing with grief, managing conflict, or overcoming anger.

Each month, Stogner presents CoreCivic chaplains involved in Back to Basics with hypothetical scenarios that spark discussion about how they might handle similar issues at their own facilities.

One scenario involved a resident with a life sentence. During his time incarcerated, he became a committed Christian and attended church services every week. He was friendly and helpful and well-versed in the Bible—and he has even been recognized by the state’s governor for his achievements while incarcerated.

But one day, during a small chapel discussion, the resident admits to using an illicit drug, and even though he wants to stop, he's not sure he'll be able to do so without seeking treatment. If he self-reports his drug use, he's afraid he'll lose his housing preference, education privileges, and his job at the facility.

Using this scenario, Stogner poses this question: As this man's chaplain, should you report his drug use or help find a way for him to seek treatment that won't erase his progress?

“We’ve been getting a very wide range of responses with this from the chaplains,” Stogner shared.

Some believed the resident should be reported, others suggested he receive a write-up without being stripped of all his privileges.

“The intent was not to get all the chaplains to agree with the content on the website, but to engage with it critically,” said Stogner.

Although opinions may vary about how to handle scenarios like these, hearing different perspectives helps chaplains learn from each other, according to Stogner.

He believes the more chaplains learn and grapple with these nuanced scenarios, individual ministries can keep growing and improving—and hope can be restored for those facing incarceration.