Future for Native American Prisoners (From Native Americans, Crime, and Justice, P 278-287, 1996, Marianne O Nielsen and Robert A Silverman, eds. -- See NCJ-168132)

• NCJ Number: 168165
• Author(s): E Grobsmith
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: Westview Press, Inc
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Edited from "Indians in Prison: Incarcerated Native Americans in Nebraska," 1994.

Annotation

This chapter focuses on four issues that must be addressed if American Indians are to be served well while they are imprisoned.

Abstract

One issue is the political relationship between correctional authorities and Indian inmates. Generally, correctional officials and staff fail to appreciate the centrality of Indian cultural practices and values in the lives of Native Americans. Consequently, they do not allow Indian inmates and their advocates the time and the funding to benefit from rehabilitative cultural experiences. A second issue is Federal support for Indian relief through prison litigation. Without Federal court decisions, there would be no special provisions for accommodating Indian religious needs in prison. Indian inmates must continue to have Federal support to pursue litigation that bears upon the practice of Indian religious and ceremonial activities while in prison. A third issue is the State's commitment to alcohol rehabilitation in prison. This requires that prisons provide treatment experts trained specifically in Native-oriented treatment. The fourth issue involves treatment programs and parole policies. Release from prison may be accompanied by a parole agreement that requires abstinence from alcohol, disassociation with ex-offenders, and attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings; but without a prior psychological commitment to recovery and sobriety, such agreements are unrealistic.