JOINT PROGRAM · HSCI & VHPA
You can make a difference.
Hindu inmates in US jails and prisons often have no access to a Hindu chaplain, no Bhagavad Gita on the library shelf, and no one to sit with them through the hardest chapter of their lives. Volunteer visits — even a few per year — change that.
Sign up to volunteerWhy this program exists
Hindu inmates are in a very vulnerable stage of their life and can be targets of proselytism. Jail religious libraries are typically stocked with the Bible and Koran but not the Gita; if a Hindu inmate requests spiritual guidance, they are usually offered a Christian or Muslim chaplain by default. There is a clear need for Hindus to fill this void and provide Dharmic spiritual support to Hindus and non-Hindu inmates alike.
The Hindu Inmate Wellness program is a joint initiative of the Hindu Spiritual Care Institute (HSCI) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) that recruits, onboards, and supports volunteer chaplains for jails, prisons, and juvenile detention centers across the country.
"One time, an inmate needed company to chant Hanuman Chalisa; another time a non-Hindu inmate wished to learn more about the Gita. The time commitment is minimal — 1 to 10 visits a year — and the experience is deeply rewarding."
— Dilip Amin, PhD · Kutumba Vol. 3
Steps to become a volunteer
Reach out to HSCI. We'll walk you through the intake, background check expectations, and Dharma-sensitive chaplaincy orientation.
Contact the chaplaincy department at your local jail, prison, or juvenile detention center. If you're on a work visa, you're still qualified.
Typical commitment is 1 to 10 visits per year. Sessions are short and structured around the facility's calendar.
Listen. Sit with them. Chant Hanuman Chalisa together, discuss a Gita verse, or lead simple yoga, breath work, or meditation.
A tangible legacy of every visit: work with the facility's chaplaincy office to place a copy of the Gita (and other Dharmic scriptures) on the shelf, so future inmates find it there whether or not a volunteer is present.
Who this is for
- Hindu community members in the US who want to give back through meaningful, low-time-commitment seva
- HSCI-trained chaplains and CHT students looking for a field placement in correctional chaplaincy
- Non-alumni Hindu volunteers — case-by-case equivalency welcomed; traditional gurukula background is welcomed too
- VHPA members interested in a structured pathway into chaplaincy service
Sign up
READY TO START?
Email us and an HSCI coordinator will reach out within a few business days to begin your onboarding.
A joint program of the Hindu Spiritual Care Institute and Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America.