We need the help of more volunteers to give of themselves for a couple of hours a week to continue to grow and fulfill our mission. To become a volunteer for Bridges To Life, you must first become an approved volunteer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). There are 2 steps in that process:
1. Complete a TDCJ Volunteer application form
2. Attend a TDCJ Volunteer Training
TDCJ Volunteer Trainings are scheduled on Saturdays at various sites throughout the year (see current schedule here). You will bring your completed Volunteer application form with you to the training and submit it there (see complete instructions in the red box below). In addition to becoming an approved TDCJ volunteer, you will need to attend a Bridges To Life Volunteer Training. Contact the Regional Coordinator in your area for details.
Houston/Richmond Region - Linda Windham
Northeast Texas Region - Connie Hilton
Dallas/Ft. Worth Region – Charles Fisher, Joel Lightfoot
Austin Region - Deborah Hartman
Bryan/College Station Region - Margie Blazier
Huntsville Region - Richard Lopez
Waco/Gatesville Region - Lucy Segars or Belinda Hester
Beaumont and the Southeast part of Houston Region - Dolores Stoughton
Brazoria County Region - Dolores Stoughton
San Antonio Region - Larry James
Amarillo and Texas Panhandle Region - Tac Buchanan
In Indiana, contact Misty Wallace
In Washington, contact Judy Dutcher
Click on this link: Volunteer with the TDCJ
Under Volunteer Opportunities, click on Volunteer Application and download the form.
Fill out the form completely (it will not be accepted if anything is left blank). IN THE SECTION FOR PROGRAM OF INTEREST:
- Check box for Chaplaincy and add your faith identification,
including place of worship if applicable
- Also at bottom right of this section, check box for OTHER and
enter Bridges To Life
Be sure to save the form after completing, then print it, and take with you to the TDCJ Volunteer Training. Be sure to notify your Regional Coordinator once you have attended the TDCJ training.
It will take several weeks for your volunteer application to be processed and a background check to be completed.
Once you attend the TDCJ Volunteer Security Training class and your background check has been cleared, you will be an approved volunteer for 2 years.
Do not mail or fax your volunteer application. You are required to submit an application when you attend the training.
Watch Bridges to Life in action in this 3.5 minute video.
To see the full 30 minute PBS program on this ministry, click here.
To see this abridged video on You Tube, click here.