RI Prisons Adopt New Policy On Inmates Preaching In Settlement of Suit

After losing in the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals last April, the Rhode Island Department of corrections has settled a suit by prisoner Wesley Spratt who wanted to preach to fellow prisoners. Even though Spratt had preached in prison for seven years, in 2003 a new warden put in a blanket ban on inmates preaching, arguing that giving inmates positions of leadership or authority poses a security risk. As part of the settlement, the Department adopted a new policy that permits inmates to preach at religious services in prison under supervision of a chaplain. However, sermons that encourage racism, hate or divisiveness are prohibited. Also, the policy prevents any single inmate from monopolizing the pulpit. Articles on the settlement, which was approved yesterday in U.S. federal district court, were published today by The Day and by the Providence Journal. Spratt was represented by the Rhode Island chapter of the ACLU.