April 7, 2010

Oliver J. Bell, Chairman
Texas Board of Criminal Justice
PO Box 13084
Austin, TX 78711

Dear Oliver J. Bell,

Thank you for your letter 2/26/10 addressing the Meeting’s concern for Indian inmates at C. T. Terrell Unit in Rosharon, TX, and for the copies of your departments policies covering the practices of Native American devotees held in custody by TDCJ.

It is my sense of your letter that you agree in principle with the substance of our appeal on behalf of Indian friends at Rosharon, that is, that the TDJC will accommodate a Native American religious organization at C. T. Terrell Unit, presumably within the framework that certain Indian inmates there have lately proposed, which were submitted to your office. This framework expressly provides that the Hoop accepts that all of its activities shall be conducted openly under the oversight of the Warden, with direct supervision by the chaplain and/or other offices under control of the Warden, and that it shall make no policies or “by-laws” of its own contrary to the good order of the Institution.

The Meeting is grateful for your understanding and this positive and constructive response to Friends’ appeal. It is our hope that Native American devotees at C.T. Terrell Unit will - within a short period of time - be able, in fact, to act as a congregation for the faith and practice of traditional Native American spirituality and to provide mutual support for the increase of understanding and free practice of Native American religion in good order within the confines of the Institution. We remain open to them, and to you, in expectation of the fulfillment of these aspirations within the limits of your current policies.

Regarding Native American religious practice in general currently within TDJC: we appreciate the acute difficulties in locating and recruiting volunteers to support Indian inmates in their spiritual discipline and religious programs. While it would appear that direct support of any program on-site in Rosharon by a member of our Meeting is beyond our present capacity, we will do what we can to inform others of the ever-present need there. We would encourage your staff to understand that there is a great deal that can be accomplished by the men themselves from their own reservoirs of experience. Friends have witnessed on many occasions how peaceably spiritually-motivated and self-disciplined men can conduct themselves, even within the confines of prison institutions.

Thank you again for your agency in improving the condition of these men.

Yours truly,
Frederick J. Leonard, Clerk