Prison Chaplain Has Faith in His Work

The first time William Glaser set foot in a jail, he knew he had found his calling.

Entering his 27th year in the prison ministry and his fifth as the Ventura County Jail chaplain, Glaser coordinates religious services and Bible study groups for 500 prisoners every week. The retired contractor-turned-preacher says he only has one thing on his mind.

“I’m always just looking for that one guy who’s going to find the Lord and change his life,” Glaser, 76, said during an interview in his office adjacent to the jail recently.

Besides ministering to prisoners, Glaser arranges nondenominational religious programs. Two assistant chaplains and more than 400 volunteers from 40 churches help him in the program, which handed out 1,500 Bibles last year.

Glaser’s visit last week to James McDade--a San Luis Obispo man being held for a drunk-driving offense that violated his parole--was typical of the work he does.

Although McDade wore a red bracelet, indicating he had a history of violence, Glaser walked into the holding cell.

“When I talk to an inmate, I don’t care if he’s a rapist or a child molester or a murderer--to me they’re all the same. And I don’t believe there is such a thing as a man who is hopeless,” Glaser said.

McDade wanted the preacher to call his fiancee, Melissa, who had just given birth to their son. Glaser agreed.

After listening to McDade detail a history of crime related to substance abuse, Glaser asked him to pray with him.

Both men bowed their heads and clasped their hands on the bare table, which held nothing but Glaser’s worn, leather-bound Bible.

Although McDade seemed uncomfortable with the contact at first, he eventually opened up, in the end shaking Glaser’s hand and thanking him for the help.

Later, Glaser said he has not become cynical about jailhouse conversions.

“It’s not for me to judge them. I just have to show them that faith exists.”

“One of the deputies asked me the other day if I’d saved all the prisoners today,” Glaser said. “I told him I hadn’t saved anyone, that’s up to God. All I can do is ask them to open their hearts.”