A random look throughout the prison system will come up with few, if any, men who are as dedicated to serving the population as Lee Jaspar.  It is his stated belief that he serves the population to benefit others.  

“I believe that my primary job is to serve the population. By doing this, I am acknowledging those I have harmed,” said Jaspar.  “This statement best presents the subject: the man, the convict, [and] his ‘gift’ to the population to assist others with their maturity and growth within this system.”

Jaspar is accomplishing this by working with groups to serve and assist with many activities.  One of the primary methods by which he is able to accomplish this is via his current job assignment within the Media Center.  

Jaspar has been in his current assignment for approximately 12 years — longer than any current employee within the media center — and mostly does editing and audio post-production for the broadcast division of the San Quentin media center.

Jaspar was hired mainly because he knew how to program the Leightronix Nexis units utilized within this communication system.  

Jaspar has prior experience working with the Blind Project at the California Medical Facility for four years as a post-production engineer for audio projects and books.  He had also been a teaching assistant for four years.  

In addition to his regular duties, Jaspar has been reading professionally and recording and playing music for the radio podcast program “Ear Hustle.” Jaspar is an accomplished musician.

Jaspar has never sought to be recognized for his work. His amends aren’t a result of his work.  “For me to accept any accolades for my work would invalidate my commitment to make amends to the community.  My highlight is my commitment to the community in the form of commitment to service.”  

Jaspar believes that it is his involvement with various groups and assignments that actually has taught him the most.  

“It does not have anything to do with the list of all that I have done or learned.  It does have to do with what I got from each and every one of them,” Jaspar said.

Jaspar makes himself available to do service with both staff and residents.  He said, “There is no limit to what I will do”  He wants to assist in the rehabilitation of others.  “Hundreds of people, if not thousands, are going to read this article and, if it affects and/or assists just one person, I’ve been a success.”

Jaspar has been incarcerated 29 years.  His commitment and dedication is not something normally seen in others with similar periods of incarceration.  Jaspar said, “Serving others is really how I take care of myself.”