Chaplaincy Unit

Sheriff's chaplains serve on call 24/7 for our employees and their family members. Our chaplains serve by making notification to families of those who have been seriously injured or killed and respond to the hospital.

Our chaplaincy staff is made up of one full-time chaplain and seven Georgia Sheriff's Association certified volunteer pastor's of various local churches. The Sheriff's chaplains perform the following tasks and other duties as directed by Sheriff McDuffie or the director of chaplaincy.

• Visit sick and injured Sheriff's Office members and their families at home or in the hospital
• Comfort and counsel families of deceased or terminally ill members of the Sheriff's Office and the community of Effingham County, as requested.
• Provide and participate in religious services for deceased employees and family members of the Sheriff's Office, when requested by family.
• To be a source of Christian and religious reference when requested.
• Minister and attend the funerals of active or retired members of the Sheriff's Office or family members.
• Participate in in-service training classes.
• Attend Sheriff's Office graduations, promotion activities, award ceremonies, dinners, social events, etc. to offer invocations and benedictions.
• Participate in the ride-a-long program periodically, or as directed by the director of chaplaincy, with deputies.
• Attend roll calls and visit different divisions of the Sheriff's Office periodically to inform employees of our Chaplaincy services.
• Counsel with members, family, and other citizens having personal problems, on request.
• Attend training courses to enhance his or her effectiveness.
• Provide referrals to Sheriff's Office staff and the community where specialized attention is needed or in those cases beyond the chaplain's ability to assist.