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Religious activity

The religious activcity in a prison is organised by the prison chaplain. The purpose of the prison chaplain service is to satisfy the religious needs of the prisoners and to organise spiritual activity. The coordination and promotion of religious work in a prison is in harmony with the recommendations of the Estoninan Coucil of Churches. In addition to the post of a chaplain existing in each prison, there are voluntary persons working in prisons, whom the churches and congregations have authorised to conduct such work. The prisoners have a chance to meet the chaplain on regular basis, to participate in religious services and events. The chaplains may also assist the prisoners in the process of resocialisation, helping them to restore good relations with their near and dear, to organize places of residence for the released persons in the rehabilitation centres and to offer individual counselling after release from prison. The chaplains and voluntary workers together with churches and non-profit organisations have provided material assistance for the prisoners and their families (colthes procured by means of humanitarian help, Christmas presents for children etc). Chaplains together with the social workers have actively assisted the prisoners in finding activities for the leisure hours, performing to a certain extent the functions of a hobby-circle leader. Serveral Christian bands and singers have visited prisons, giving performances for the inmates. Prison chaplains have also recieved visitors from foreign churches and organisations that have visited prisons with the wish to offer diversified co-operation and help. In Oleviste Church (Tallinn) a special service is held on regular basis each last Sunday of a month, organized for the persons recently released from prisons.

The general prison chaplain of Estonia is Igor Miller.

Estonian Chaplains are also members of the International Prison Chaplains' Association ( IPCA).