Archdiocese of Seattle – Criminal Justice Ministry
Introduction:
We are a team of Catholic chaplains and ministry volunteers committed to providing one-on-one pastoral care, Catholic Masses, sacraments, prayer services, Bible studies, retreats and other spiritual services inside Western Washington’s jails and prisons. We provide support to all people impacted by crime, including victims, crime initiators, families and community members. We are committed to systemic change via restorative justice peacemaking circles that address crime/harm and foster healing. We are additionally committed to re-entry approaches that empower faith communities to provide mutually transformative wraparound support for former prison residents. A better model of justice:
Years of harsh and increasingly retributive responses to crime have resulted in the U.S. Our hope is to cultivate a restorative model of criminal justice that will transform suffering by identifying and addressing the deeper needs and traumas underlying any occurrence of harm. Restorative justice is a model that seeks healing for all rather than punishment of one. Ultimately, we recognize the broken body of Jesus in everyone impacted by crime and we are therefore committed to accompanying all affected people on their journey toward transformation and wholeness. We believe this approach honors the Gospel imperative to resist all that diminishes personal dignity and crushes the human spirit. Instead, we seek to manifest resurrection and the kingdom of heaven on earth. Our reach:
9 Department of Corrections (DOC) state prisons
7 county jails
5 juvenile detention facilities
1 tribal jail
1 state special commitment center
1 federal detention center
1 federal immigration detention center
Our team:
1 archdiocesan director
16 paid facility chaplains (7 priests, 2 deacons, 7 lay ministers)
8 volunteer facility chaplains (5 deacons, 3 lay ministers)
150+ additional jail, detention and prison ministry volunteers
Our core initiatives:
Catholic Chaplaincy
Restorative Justice Peace Circles
One Parish One Prisoner (OPOP) Re-entry Model
Archdiocese of Seattle - Criminal Justice Ministry
710 9th Ave
Seattle, WA 98104
For more information, please contact Joe Cotton at (206) 382-4847 or [email protected]
