The chaplaincy department supervised 38,589 religious services attended by 6.5 million offenders in fiscal year 2017.

This was accomplished with 124,270 visits by approved volunteers and 16,216 visits by special volunteers for a total of 140,486 volunteer visits.

Volunteers provided 395,204 hours of service to the chaplaincy department at TDCJ.

Volunteers provide programs and personal experience that would otherwise not be available.

Approved volunteer = A person who has been approved through an application process, completed volunteer training and orientation, and participates in a program or service or participates in volunteer activities on a regular basis.

Special Volunteer = Any individual who has provided a service or participated in volunteer activities no more than four times or has not established a patter of regular, scheduled participation. After the fouth visit as a special volunteer, the individual will be required to become an approved volunteer for future visits. An exception will be made for those individuals who participate in special events such as crusades, but participate in no more than four crusade events in a calendar year. Special volunteers do not complete a volunteer application and are not typically subject to a criminal history check unless deemed necessary. Ex-offenders and releasees are eligible to participate as special volunteers 12 months after their release from incarceration.

Mentor = An approved volunteer who meets TDCJ approved mentor criteria, is recommended by the TDCJ program staff, and has completed online mentor training or training provided by authorized personnel. Approved employee volunteers may not serve as mentors. Refer to AD-07.38, "Administration of Mentor Services".