Resources for Prison Chaplains & Volunteers

This guide offers programs that help with life after prison, finding employment with a felony record, family assistance for those with a direct relationship with an incarcerated person, skills workshops, education, and more.

The Pema Chödron Foundation aims to make Pema’s books and recorded teachings available to underserved individuals, and the organizations that serve them, free of charge.

This program is for the benefit of those who have no access to Pema’s teachings, and to groups and not-for-profit organizations who serve people in need.

Download the printable reading list below.

This is a very general reading list complied by Susan Shannon, M. Div.

Many of these can be categorized under more than one heading. Please share this with anyone you know who is interested in working with the incarcerated.

A resource directory from the Naljor Prison Dharma Service.

A guide to finding hope, faith, and grace on the journey of an awakened heart.

This is from the O’Mara Law Group, a great resource.

BPM strives to send a few newsletters out each year to our greater Sangha Behind Bars. Feel free to pass these on to anyone interested.

Every now and then BPM publishes a newsletter for prison volunteers which includes some tips, FAQ’s and other pertinent information.

Prison Yoga Project is an incredible program that brings Trauma-Informed Yoga to the incarcerated population world wide! They also offer their free book to inmates. The transformation of the heart and soul is bolstered, especially in prison, by doing yoga. Trauma gets released, old emotional patterns change, the list of benefits goes on and on. This episode is of BPM’s founder Susan Shannon being interviewed by Blaire Embrey of PYP.

Leaving Prison Behind: A Council Before I Go

Leaving Prison Behind: A Council Before I Go is an illustrated novella created from the words and stories of system-impacted individuals, and those who support them. The book grew out of the work of nonprofit organization Center for Council with the intention of supporting and resourcing incarcerated individuals preparing themselves for the journey home. Some will recognize the practice of council that the characters enact in this story -- and others will encounter it for the first time. Along with the story of the last night of our protagonist's incarceration the book includes a robust resource section with ideas, references and practices intended to be of support in the preparation for the journey that lies ahead.

Our Higher Education After Incarceration guide reviews how to get into college, the best degrees for people with prior convictions, and everything formerly incarceratedfolks should know about higher education. It is free to access, and we are happy to show our support to your community by sharing this valuable information.