In a move that is both correct and remarkable, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has revised its Chapel Library Project to address the concerns of religious groups and prisoner advocacy organizations.
The changes were announced at a meeting with the faith groups called together by the Bureau of Prisons. There was a real spirit of cooperation and openness, and the BOP’s revisions to their policies show that they really listened to us.
All the books have been placed back on the shelves. There will now be a systematic review of the books and materials. There are four criteria for review:
- Is the material religious in nature;
- Does it jeopardize the safety, security and good order of the institution;
- Does it facilitate criminal activity; and
- Could it be used to radicalize or incite inmates to violence.
If the materials are religious and are not objectionable under criteria 2-4, the materials will be placed in the chapel library. If materials do not meet these criteria, the chaplain will submit a form stating explicitly the reasons for objecting to it, and submit it to the central office, where it will be separately reviewed. New and donated materials will be handled using the same criteria.
This is truly a remarkable turn of events, and much praise should go to the BOP Director Harley Lappin. He clearly pressed his team to resolve our concerns, and made management changes to accomplish it.
It is not easy for a government agency to change direction. In my experience, it is particularly difficult for corrections departments to alter course. That is what is so extraordinary about the leadership shown by Director Lappin and Dr. Joyce Conley, who oversees BOP programs.
When I first learned of the Chapel Library Program three months ago, the policy had been adopted by the BOP and the chaplains were already implementing it, removing all but a small number of religious books from the chapel libraries. Prison Fellowship and many other groups protested the new policy because it would have severely limited prisoners’ access to many wholesome religious materials.
And here is the noteworthy part – rather than resenting our objections, Director Lappin listened to us. He ordered a review of the policy, and adopted a revised policy that addressed our concerns. And he accomplished this in less than 90 days. That is the way our civics teachers taught us government should work.
What started as a very contentious process a few months ago became an opportunity to open prison doors to materials that will help inmates change their lives. It also allowed us to forge closer working relationships with the BOP. The Holy Spirit brought reconciliation where there had been discord.
Hallelujah!
In His service,
Pat Nolan
Vice President, Prison Fellowship
P.S. Director Lappin is a terrific example of the qualities of leadership discussed by Antony Bell in his excellent books Great Leadership: What It Is and What It Takes in a Complex World and The Clock Tower. These two books present the best exposition of the nature of leadership that I have ever read. I highly recommend them to you. |
