1. Take extra precaution on how you dress. You should
wear slacks or jeans.
It is a matter of modesty.
No really tight apparel.
No low cut clothing.
Do not wear white slacks or
white t-shirts or blouses, as this apparel shows panty lines
and bra lines and might not be
advisable under these circumstances.
2. Take precaution on how you touch a prisoner.
Make sure they want to be
touched.
Don’t assume it’s ok.
If they do allow touching take care
how it is done.
Hugs
should be careful hugs from the side.
Don’t embrace a prisoner.
Don’t hold on to them or allow them
to hold on to you.
No
frontal embraces.
3. Remember the buddy system. NEVER go anywhere
alone.
If you need to go
to the restroom, ask a woman guard to take a group of you.
Then always go into the restroom
with a partner to check it out.
Then if it is clear, only then can
one of you step outside the door to guard the one inside.
This is a must.
4. When going to chapel, with a group of people, always wait
until the leader says its ok
to
leave the chapel.
Do not
leave even with another person, until the leader of the group has said it
is ok to leave.
5. Try to leave everything you can in your
vehicle.
You only
need photo ID to get into the prison.
Every prison has a different
set of rules to adhere to.
It is best to not take
anything you can do without.
6. Most prisons ask us to sign into the unit and to
sign out as we leave.
Don’t forget to do
this.
7. Bibles can be given to prisoners. But you must get
clearance from the leader of the group.
He usually has to get
permission from the chaplain.
8. You will have to go through a metal
check.
Try not to
have metal on your persons.
Even some small necklaces will
set the metal detector off.
Don’t wear an under wire bra
if you are easily embarrassed. It can and has set the detectors
off.
Some belts and boots set them
off. Boots and belts can be removed without embarrassments.
The only jewelry you need
would be your wedding ring.
Leave everything else at home
or in your vehicle under lock and key.
9. Most prison rather us not take medicine
into the prison.
If
you are on medication of any kind take only what you need for the time you
are inside the
prison.
Be sure if
it is prescribed medication you have it in a prescription
bottle.
Do not take
gum or mints or anything eatable into the prison.
It could contain drugs and is
not allowed. Leave it at home or in the car.
All prisons have different
rules on this and it is subject to change with out notice.
If they say no to anything.
JUST DO IT. (Even if you don’t understand
why)
If you have a
question ask your leader later. Never challenge a guard or a
prisoner.
Go to your
leader and have him handle it.
10. If a prisoner gives you a note, even if he
says it is a prayer request, don’t open it up and read
it. Give it to your
leader. This is a must do.
11. If you wish to correspond with a prisoner it
must be cleared with your leader.
You can have a P.O. box number
or a church address or just allow the letters to be sent to you
through the ministry you go in
with and they can forward the letters
to you.
12. Don’t agree to make phone calls for
prisoners.
Don’t
agree to make personal contact with anyone outside of the prison
for a prisoner. If they ask
this of you tell them you are not allowed to do this.
That it is against our rules.
Tell them you could give the request to their Chaplin or to your
leader.
13. If a prisoner tells you of a problem in the
prison don’t tell anyone else in the prison system
what you have been
told.
If you feel it
is a valid complaint then tell your leader and he will handle it outside
of the
prison
system.
14.Don’t allow a prisoner to tell you why he is in
prison. It is none of your business.
As a woman you could be put in an
embarrassing position.
It
is better to just stop them by saying you are not there to judge them but
to help them
with there
spiritual needs.
Then ask them
if they have a relationship with Jesus and continue on with ministering to
them.
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