[Jail Chaplains]
Jennifer Knight, "Jail Chaplain Gives God Helping Hand," The Los Angeles Times, October 10, 1998.

Chaplain Bill Glaser serves more than 1250 men and 150 women housed in the Ventura County Jail. He also coordinates 415 volunteers who offer guidance to people of every faith.

Most of the inmates at Ventura are there for petty crimes and many of them return time after time. They don't know how to change. By offering them God, Glaser offers them the chance to turn their lives around. He also warns them about the weakness of the flesh as he himself was addicted to bourbon early in life. He has confidence that many of them will change.

• How is recidivism affected by religion?
• Is religion found in a jail cell a way out for people like McDowell who have a long history of petty crime? Why or why not?

[Jail Accreditation]
Erin Emery, "Pueblo Jail accreditation in jeopardy over exam lag," Denver Post, February 11, 1999, Sec. B, page 6.

To receive accreditation by the ACA, jails must meet 438 standards. Only 120 jails nationwide can boast ACA certification. Accreditation is helpful because it builds community confidence and aids in the defense against lawsuits.

The Pueblo jail lost accreditation as a result of an unrelated medical inspection. Only 75 percent of inmates received physicals within 14 days of incarceration-the standard is 90 percent. The officer in charge of paperwork was demoted and EMTs are working overtime to meet the standard.

• What is the importance of ACA accreditation?
• What risks were being taken by not ensuring that inmates received physicals within the 14 day timeframe?