Inflammatory literature banned from prison chapel libraries

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons, which houses more than 200,000 inmates in 114 facilities, has announced that it may prohibit certain materials from its chapel libraries if it concludes those materials are "fostering violence, vengeance, or hatred toward particular religious, racial or ethnic groups," or "urging the overthrow or destruction of the United States."

The Bureau is amending its regulations on religious beliefs and practices by adding a new regulation, Section 548.21, in accordance with the Second Chance Act of 2007, which was approved April 9, 2008.

Concerns about chapel libraries were raised in a 2004 report by the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General, which warned that terrorist groups are likely to attempt to radicalize and recruit inmates in U.S. prisons "because they may be predisposed to violence, feel disenfranchised from society, desire power and influence, seek revenge against those who incarcerated them, be hostile towards authority and the United States, or cling to a radical or extremist 'family'."

All prison chapels provide inmates with access to religious books, audiotapes, and videos related to many different religions.

"The Bureau recognizes the importance of providing inmates with materials necessary to support their pursuit of religious interests," says the notice of the proposed rule, which was announced in the Federal Register on Jan. 16. "However, the Bureau must evaluate chapel library materials to ensure that the safety of inmates, staff, and the public are not adversely affected."

Further information about the new regulation, which was signed by the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, Harley Lappin, is available from Sarah Qureshi, of the Bureau's office of general counsel, at 202-307-2105.