Commissioners agree to include chaplain liability insurance in corrections contract discussions

Rockingham County commissioners discussed and authorized staff to include liability insurance coverage as part of contract negotiations for a new bilingual chaplain for the county corrections facility.

During the Sept. 11 meeting, a county official recommended hiring a bilingual chaplain to replace the current chaplain who is stepping down and described a succession plan that would include the outgoing chaplain training the new hire. The official said insurance is a barrier for some chaplains because they can be named in lawsuits; meeting discussion noted two insurance quotes the county received, one near $2,600 and a lower quote around $1,200 for coverage levels described at the meeting. The official said the hire could begin Oct. 1 if insurance and contract logistics are resolved.

Commissioners and staff discussed several payment options: the chaplain paying and being reimbursed, providing a stipend to the chaplain to purchase insurance, or covering the insurance directly from the presenting official's budget line. Commissioners did not take a standalone formal vote at the meeting on an immediate payment method; instead, they asked staff to include an insurance provision in the contract submitted for approval and to return with final contract language and the payment approach.

Why it matters: Chaplain services were presented as important to correctional programming and to inmates' access to religious and supportive services. Commissioners framed the insurance as necessary to protect both the chaplain and the county and requested contract language that clarifies indemnification and insurance responsibilities before authorizing payment.

Ending: Staff were directed to finalize the contract with an explicit insurance provision and a funding approach, and to return to the board for final approval of the contract and any stipend or reimbursement arrangement.