BEHIND
BARS:
IS THERE
HOPE?
by Betty Bruechert
Rev. H. L. Baseom, Director of Chaplains for Christian Jail Workers Assn, a former missionary and pastor. B a ck in th e 20 ’ s , the sheriff of Los Angeles, which now has
by voluntary donations. In 1945 two organizations joined forces to be come Christian Jail Workers, Inc. Today, as a result o f God’s faith fulness, adherence to jail rules and procedures, unlimited service to both officials and inmates, the men and women o f Christian Jail Workers, Inc. are the official Protestant Chap lains o f the Sheriff’s Department and the Probation Department. Now directed by Head Chaplain Reverend Harry Baseom, alumnus of Biola and former pastor, Christian Jail Workers, Inc. reaches 35 penal institutions in Southern California, 17 through the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office and 18 through the Juvenile Probation Department. Nine full-time and nine part-time chaplains, with 500 volunteer work-
the world’s largest sheriff’s depart ment, pioneered a rehabilitation pro gram in which he invited the organ ized churches to provide spiritual instruction. From a brave beginning in 1926, only those workers with a real burden for lost men and women persevered. Winning the confidence o f public officials, seeking the co-op eration of jailors and dealing with hardened prisoners was an uphill task. But God led and blessed. Gospel teams banded together as the United Jail Workers. Schedules were maintained and order grew out of chaos. A chaplain was needed but no financial support could come from public funds. The Jail Commission was organized to support a chaplain it
Chaplain Marvin Bond preaches at Juvenile Hall. THE KING'S BUSINESS
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