Visit the Imprisoned: A Heuristic Inquiry into the Experiences of Catholic Detention Ministry Volunteers

<p>There exists a wide breadth of literature in regards to the harmful and dehumanizing impact of incarceration on human development and dignity. Through my years as a volunteer in detention ministry, I have witnessed firsthand these effects particularly on youths who have been incarcerated. My experiences have led me to wonder then, “Why does the prison system still exist to harm people despite the array of research condemning its practices?” Through this pondering, I critiqued the larger systems at play: the prison-industrial complex, the sociopolitical rhetoric of “tough on crime,” and the overall demonization of this population. As a response to this dominant narrative, this study sought to explore the experiences of Catholic detention ministry volunteers. Through a heuristic methodology and with the theoretical underpinnings of Critical Pedagogy, Catholic Social Teaching, Liberation Theology, and Restorative Justice, I gathered data–the reflections, testimonies, and stories–from other volunteers who served as collaborators within this study. I identified four major themes that emerged from the data: (1) God within this context, (2) detention ministry as a classroom, (3) critiques of justice, and (4) solidarity to transformation. The conversations with my collaborators suggested that the experiences of volunteers ultimately shed insight into the lives of those impacted by incarceration as well as put a spotlight on their humanity. This study highlighted the need for rehumanization: transformation within the prison system calls for a shift in perspectives, an altering of attitudes, and a change of heart around the demonization of this vulnerable population.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Year

2024

Author dc:creator

• Tran, Christopher

Contributors dc:contributor

• Scot Danforth
• Lilia Monzo
• James Kirylo
• Fred La Puzza

• Incarceration
• Catholic Ministry
• Critical Pedagogy
• Liberation Theology
• Catholic Social Teaching
• Restorative Justice
• Prison Volunteer
• Catholic Studies
• Educational Methods
• Practical Theology
• Prison Education and Reentry

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/education_dissertations/71

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.chapman.edu:education_dissertations-1070