Prison Life and the Aftermath of Thug Living

Book excerpt: While COVID-19 affected the world, the prison population was equally impacted. Three thousand incarcerated men at the beginning of the pandemic were exposed to the virus. With an increasing number of individuals in custody hospitalized and others placed in quarantine, individuals in custody felt little attention was given to their survival and spiritual care during incarceration. Therefore, this study highlights what pastoral care should resemble for chaplains working in prison through the critical lens and assessment of formally incarcerated citizens. Furthermore, this work reflects on their experiences with chaplains and reconstructs how chaplaincy provides care. Damien Davis utilizes qualitative data, interviews/questions, observations, and storytelling to measure his results. This thesis ministry project offered a trauma-informed pastoral care model through a framework known as the 3 Cs for chaplains, who, in the end, became more educated, informed, and equipped to meet the needs of the incarcerated.