Chaplain reports 71% participation in faith services last year; Ramadan sign‑ups rise to 208

Reverend Coquilia Dunn, chaplain at George W. Hill Correctional Facility, briefed the Jail Oversight Board on Feb. 11 about chaplaincy operations, volunteer coordination and religious programming for incarcerated people and staff.

Dunn said 71 percent of the facility population participated in in‑person religious services in 2024 and that 16 volunteer religious organizations support Catholic and Protestant services. The chaplain said the facility does not currently have an outside imam and that one incarcerated person supports Jumah services for the Muslim community in the facility.

For Ramadan, Dunn said 208 people have registered so far for 2025. She described the medical‑clearance process for people who wish to fast and said notifications and schedules are posted on housing units and provided via tablet. "Ramadan this year begins February 28 and ends March tentatively," she said, noting newly committed incarcerated persons may participate only after medical clearance during initial classification.

Dunn outlined chaplain responsibilities including arranging clergy visits, coordinating grief counseling and making Zoom arrangements for incarcerated people to view funeral services when needed. She also introduced the volunteer coordinator, Perry Matero, and described the role of volunteers and donated religious materials; materials are reviewed per facility rules before entry.

Board members thanked Dunn for the presentation and recognized the chaplaincy's role in providing spiritual support and grief services at the facility.