Disgraced Former Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams Hired as City Jail Chaplain
Seth Williams, the former Philadelphia District Attorney who spent time in federal prison for corruption, has returned to the city’s legal infrastructure in a vastly different capacity: as a part-time chaplain for the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. Williams is reportedly providing spiritual guidance to inmates at the Riverside Correctional Facility, a role that places him back inside the very system he once helped administer.
Williams, who was Philadelphia’s first Black District Attorney and once considered a rising political star, resigned in 2017 after pleading guilty to federal bribery charges. His conviction stemmed from a corruption scandal where he accepted luxury gifts, vacations, and cash in exchange for legal favors, and misappropriated funds intended for his mother’s nursing home care. He was sentenced to five years in prison and subsequently disbarred.
In comments regarding his new position, Williams argued that his own experience as “Inmate No. 75926-066” provides him with a unique perspective that improves his ability to minister to the incarcerated. He claims that having been on the other side of the bars allows him to be a “better vessel” to help reduce recidivism and teach conflict de-escalation skills.
However, the appointment invites significant scrutiny and potential objection. Critics may argue that a public official convicted of betraying the public trust and selling the influence of his office should not hold a position of moral authority within a city institution. The hiring creates a stark paradox where the man formerly responsible for prosecuting citizens is now paid to counsel them, raising questions about the appropriateness of the role versus the principles of second-chance employment.
This development follows Williams’ release from federal custody and represents a controversial attempt at redemption for a figure whose downfall was marked by what prosecutors described as a “brazen” years-long corruption spree.
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