Chaplain Pushing To Save Lives

Daily Camera - With an award-winning self-help book to his name and an addiction-recovery foundation under his direction, Boulder County’s jail chaplain is back from a one-year sabbatical and taking ground-breaking counseling steps to help inmates turn their lives around.

In an age of advancing technology and shifting addictions, Joe Herzanek has started counseling former inmates and their families via e-mail. He’s also launched a Web site and foundation packed with self-help resources, and he’s penned an award-winning book that dares to answer the question, “Why Don’t They Just Quit?”

In 2007, Herzanek left the daily chaplain grind of helping inmates work through issues — both on a spiritual and physical level — to become an author, foundation principal and innovator.

During his time off, Herzanek said he gained renewed perspective and insight for helping people battle addiction, and in his 15th year at the jail, Herzanek has instituted its first 12-step narcotics-addiction class.

Male and female inmates in Boulder County can attend one of five Narcotics Anonymous classes.

Boulder Daily Camera