Baptisms Tricky for Inmates - Why Prisons Say No

A murderer on death row, a sex offender, a drug addict & seller all locked up behind bars wants to get baptized. What would you tell them? For many of these prisoners the answer is no.

Religions believe different things when it comes to baptism. Some denominations believe that being baptized is simply an expression of proclaiming to the world, "I am a Child of God." The act of being baptized isn't what saves you. It's your belief in God and his son that does. Other denominations believe that believing in God and his son alone won't save you. You have to get baptized for salvation. For a murderer about to be executed the denial of a baptism could mean eternal damnation.

Why don't all prisons allow baptisms? Prison chaplains have some influence on why inmates are denied. The chaplain is a representative of churches as a whole and may not be the inmates acting minister. In other words the prisoner can belong to a different denomination than the chaplain and be visited by the minister of that church. The conflict of baptism can occur when the chaplain doesn't share the same belief as the inmates chosen denomination. The chaplain may believe that you don't have to get baptized for salvation and escape eternal damnation. And what they say usually goes since they are the acting voice of all denominations in the prison working in a process very similar to how the President of the United States runs things.

Money is an issue of denying inmates baptism. Prisons may have chapels but they don't usually have a place set aside for baptisms. It would cost money to build one, money for security installations and money to pay extra security officers or money for overtime to officers having to attend the event for safety precautions.

Escape attempts is a deterrent of allowing an inmate the right to a baptism. In the name of religion a prisoner may say they are seeking a spiritual immersion and cleansing of the soul while plotting out a way to escape. If such an attempt is made loss of life can ensue.

The passing of diseases through baptism water is cause for the institutions to say no. Multiple inmates baptized the same day will likely share the same water. While the water will have a treatment added to kill diseases there is always the chance a disease or a virus strain from one infected inmate can slip through and infect other inmates and the minister performing the baptism.