Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2004. / Title from title screen (viewed 5 May 2008). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Dept. of Sociology and Social Policy, Faculty of Arts. Degree awarded 2004; thesis submitted 2003. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.

This thesis deals with the pastoral and social work in prison service. In the theoratical part I focus on European trends in prison service in some European countries and in the Czech Republic, on the mission and tasks of prison pastoral services, particularly the sense and practice of pastoral service in prison service. I outline all Churches working in prison pastoral service, the possibilities of their work in prison {--} mainly legislation. I describe the ecumenical process in prison service. The work also describes social work with people under custody or sentence, and finally the Code of Ethics of social workers in the Czech Republic. The practical part concerns the opinions and experience of chaplains working in prison pastoral care.

The existing practice of prison chaplaincy service. Master's thesis called The Existing Practice of Prison Chaplaincy Service is about purpose and object of prison chaplaincy service from the view of prison chaplains. The theoretical part presents volunteer pastoral care in prison and employee pastoral care in prison including history and object of these both parts. Master's thesis looks into personal character of chaplain, summarizes scope of his employment and different duties in custodial sentence and in sentence of imprisonment. The practical part come out from qualitative elaboration interviews with four chaplains (two were men and two were women) and also with one former user of prison chaplaincy service. The original intention of this master's thesis (purpose and object of prison chaplaincy service from the view of chaplain) has been extended by two new objects (describe personal way of faith and surroundings of prison) pursuant to interview with former user. Results brings different perception of purpose and objects of prison chaplaincy service - hope, change, self-improvement, correction of personal character and self-understanding. The conclusions include chaplains visions of the future of prison chaplaincy service -supervision support, positive medialization, to profile role of chaplain, help for...