Courts Consider Cell Block Spirituality

Good news for Indians incarcerated in Nebraska. The U.S. District Judge Court recently ruled that they may practice traditional ceremonies, including the right to "have two powwows a year and use traditional foods such as fry bread, corn and 'berry dish' in their ceremonies.[..]The inmates agreed not to use tobacco which is banned in prison but will use chinshasha, which is made from the bark of red willow trees, as a substitute." (I never knew powwows and fry bread where traditional, but that doesn't diminish their point.)

Considering how important one's religion is and how hard many Native prisoners have fought for the right to worship in a traditional way, this ruling is a positive sign. And on the pragmatic side, it seems like the practice of one's chosen religion in prison faciliates the rehabilitation process, including "reductions in alcoholism and anti-social behavior, decreased recidivism rate, and improved self-esteem and dignity".

In a related case, Jason at The Wild Hunt writes today that the Supreme Court is hearing a case involving religious rights from minority and/or controversial pagan religions from inmates in Ohio. Folks over there don't seem to be very optimistic that that ruling will be positive.