VOLUNTEERS AND PROFESSIONAL JAIL MINISTERS ARE ADVISED TO BE THEMSELVES, RATHER THAN TRYING TO MAINTAIN A FALSE SENSE OF THEOLOGICAL SUPERIORITY IN COUNSELING PRISONERS. PRISONERS DO NOT NEED DETAILED EXPLANATIONS SO MUCH AS THEY NEED FRIENDSHIP. THE CHRISTIAN PRISON VOLUNTEER OUGHT TO APPROACH A COUNSELING SESSION AS THOUGH HE OR SHE WERE MEETING A FRIEND FOR A CUP OF COFFEE. PART OF BEING A FRIEND IS JUST HELPING A PERSON THROUGH THEIR HARD TIMES, OR HELPING THEM DEAL WITH THINGS THEY MAY NEVER HAVE CONFRONTED BEFORE. A 1972 LEAA STUDY INDICATED THAT 42 PERCENT OF LOCAL JAILS HAD NO RELIGIOUS SERVICES OF ANY KIND, AND THAT WHILE MOST STATE PRISONS PROVIDED RELIGIOUS SERVICES, SEVERAL OF THEM DID NOT. THE MAJORITY OF JAILS DEPEND UPON OUTSIDE GROUPS TO PROVIDE WHATEVER SERVICES AND COUNSELING ARE PERMITTED WIHIN THE FACILITIES. HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS ASSIST IN THE LEGAL AND WELFARE NEEDS OF THE PRISONERS', BUT RELATIVELY FEW GROUPS ATTEND TO PRISONERS SPIRITUAL NEEDS. THE COMMITTED CHRISTIAN VOLUNTEER HAS A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY IN CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY IN PARTICIPATING IN BIBLE STUDIES AND CLASSES, IN ADMINISTRATIVE WORK FOR THE OFFICIAL CHAPLAIN, AND IN SERVING AS A LIAISON WITH PRISONERS' FAMILIES AND PAROLE BOARDS. AFTER PRISONERS ARE RELEASED, THE VOLUNTEER CAN SERVE AS A PROBATION OR PAROLE SPONSOR, ASSIST IN LOCATING WORK, AND ENCOURAGE THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF THE RELEASED INMATES. SIMPLY BY BEING PRESENT IN THE JAIL, THE CHAPLAIN OR VOLUNTEER EVANGELIST CAN CONDUCT A VALUABLE MINISTRY FOR INMATES. THE RAPPORT THAT PRISONERS DEVELOP WITH THE COUNSELORS WILL IMPROVE THE REHABILITATION OF THE INMATES. REFERENCES AND REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)