Recently, the Chaplain of the Year award was presented to Steve Toth from Snake River Correctional Institution. Many, if not all, Chaplains within the Religious Service Unit go above and beyond their job descriptions to enhance the lives of the adults in custody they serve. This Unit Specific Award recognizes at least one of these dedicated Chaplains each year for their exceptional service to the Religious Service Unit, their facility, the adults in custody, the Oregon Department of Corrections, and the public.
This year, the honor goes to Chaplain Steve Toth. Throughout the year, Chaplain Toth stepped up to lead the East Side Chaplains, taking on the responsibilities of Chaplain Lead. In this role, he supported twelve Chaplains—seven of whom were new—helping them fulfill their mission of providing opportunities for adults in custody to practice their spirituality within the prison setting. He also contributed valuable input to the Special Meals group, advocating for consistency and fairness in religious observances across the state. Additionally, he traveled multiple times across the state to provide spiritual care to facilities lacking a Chaplain.
Beyond these responsibilities, Steve continued to deliver religious services and support to 2,500 adults in custody at Snake River Correctional Institution, always ready to listen to and assist his fellow Chaplains whenever they needed help. His dedication has earned him great respect from both his colleagues and the entire Religious Service Unit.
Courtesy of the Religious Services Administrative Team
