The services provided by this non-profit organization will complement CCA's existing chaplaincy and wide-ranging faith-based programs throughout its system of 59 prisons and jails across the country. CCA recently announced a system-wide partnership with the national non-profit evangelical organization Champions for Life, plus CCA facilities already offer a variety of faith-based volunteer programs to meet wide-ranging spiritual beliefs.

“We believe this unique partnership between CCA and Good News Jail & Prison Ministry exemplifies how private business and non-profit organizations can successfully aid our government corrections customers and the thousands of inmates entrusted in our care,” said Jim Seaton, CCA's chief operating officer. “By utilizing the vast resources and practices already in place with Good News, CCA can more quickly and effectively bring full-time chaplains and wider faith offerings to our inmates.”

Seaton added that while CCA will make financial charitable contributions to GNJPM for the services provided, no CCA government customers will incur costs due to the implementation of this partnership. “We are pleased to provide financial assistance to this worthy non-profit organization as an addition to the considerable charitable giving already provided by CCA nationwide. Our interest in non-denominational faith-based initiatives is sensible in that it enhances the safe operations of our facilities, enriches our volunteer network within the communities where we are located, and extends meaningful services to the men, women and youth in our institutions.”

With over 295 staff chaplains serving 215 institutions in 24 states and 12 foreign countries, Good News Jail & Prison Ministry has more than 40 years of experience in the field. GNJPM provides spiritually mature, well-equipped and motivated individuals to serve as Christian chaplains in jails and prisons. Services include evangelism, discipleship and pastoral attention, as well as facilitating other religious faiths within the established federal and state laws and the individual facility.

GNJPM chaplains are responsible for training, counseling, and teaching lesson plans developed and written by their own staff. Chaplains also recruit and train laypersons and volunteers who work inside jails and prisons establishing supportive relationships with participating inmates. These relationships pave the way for offenders to establish connections with the community that will benefit them upon release.

Plans are currently underway for CCA's Shelby Training Center and Tall Trees in Memphis, Tennessee, which house youthful offenders, to be the first CCA facilities to benefit from the partnership. “The GNJPM program will provide stability and growth in this important area. Shelby Training Center and Tall Trees have been in operation for several years and neither has been staffed by a full-time chaplain,” said Warden Danny Scott. “These services are currently administered by our volunteer coordinator and volunteer ministers, who provide services to the 250 residents of these facilities. ”

The partnership will also provide opportunities for existing CCA chaplains to participate in GNJPM chaplain training. Each GNJPM chaplain will be carefully screened and will complete all CCA training programs before assuming their responsibilities at the facility. This alliance represents a new standard of cooperation between solid, mainstream ministries and outsourced corrections.

“Many of our facilities currently rely on the generosity of volunteers who donate their time to minister to inmates,” said Dennis Bradby, Vice President, Inmate Programs. “This alliance will enable CCA to provide added value to our government partners and to better serve the men and women in our care by providing broad-based, voluntary religious experiences and services that most benefit the inmates.”

CCA is the nation's largest owner and operator of privatized correctional and detention facilities, behind only the federal government and four states, managing a population of approximately 55,000 inmates. The company also provides inmate transportation services for governmental agencies.