I went back to the Minimum Coordinator (a.k.a. “Minimum Book Officer or “mini book”) and mentioned my concern that the cord on the rosary was thick enough to tow a car and therefore a security hazard (potential weapon that could be used to choke).  I also pointed out that this was crafted from blanket material, so the client had destroyed government property. 

Not wanting to be the one to ask the client to hand the rosary over, I asked the book officer to take a look at the rosary herself when I brought the clients back at the end of the visit.  My concerns were: (1) the danger of my confronting a client about contraband and broken rules; (2) potential negative backlash from the client and his opinion of me as a Chaplain. I preferred the correctional officer take the heat, rather than me; and (3) timing.  I needed to drop off the two clients at the Worship Centre, and then immediately go to the Pod.  I had to arrange for six more clients to be brought out for a program, after the deacon finished in twenty minutes. I did not have time to deal with his rosary safely, but I knew that it needed to be done immediately.

When the visit with the deacon was over, I brought the two clients back to Minimum.  I went on my way, and the book officer did ask to see the rosary.  She informed him that it was a potential weapon and could be used to choke someone.  She also informed him that, since it was made of blanket material, he could not keep it.  He had destroyed government property.  She offered to take it and have it put in his personal belongings. The client said that was not necessary and requested that she just dispose of it. She was about to throw it out until the client mentioned that it had been blessed (evidently the deacon had prayed a blessing over it).  The officer was a devout Catholic, so she could not bring herself to just throw it in the garbage.  She gave it to a fellow officer and asked that he not say what he had done with the rosary.

GUIDELINE #1: THIS IS GOD’S WORK

• 1.4 (Be sensitive to the leading of His Spirit) – I paid attention to my uneasy feelings about the size of that cord.

GUIDELINE #2: KNOW YOUR INSTITUTION

• 2.2 (Know your Part) - It is not your job as a chaplain to remove contraband from a client. Ask a correctional officer to do it.
• 2.4.1 (Know the Policies and Procedures: E.g., Health and safety first) - The cord of the rosary was not breakable and therefore could have been used as a weapon to choke someone. As well, if I had tried to remove contraband from a client, I could have put myself in danger of attack.

As an aside, the cord for rosaries and crosses should be easily breakable.  It is important to find a source for these, ifyou choose to hand them out in your institution. 

I no longer hand out crosses for practical, financial and time management reasons (they just proved to be too popular).  Crosses are also not essential to the practice of the Christian faith.  I have rarely had requests for rosaries. I do not have a regular supplier, so I do not hand them out.  There is also an issue about who blesses a cross or a rosary, but that is a moot point in my institution since I do not hand them out.

Noticing a security risk also gains a chaplain big points among officers.

• 2.4.10 (Know the Policies and Procedures: E.g., clients must not destroy government property) - The client had wilfully destroyed government property and that needed to be addressed.

GUIDELINE #3: THE LARGER / OLDER YOUR INSTITUTION, THE LONGER ITS MEMORY

• 3.2.6 (Build your rapport with staff: E.g., Consultation is key) - Correctional officers appreciate being consulted and involved.
• 3.3 (Build your rapport with clients) – Demanding that the client hand over the contraband rosary would have damaged my rapport with the clients.