c. 2004 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ The Justice Department has issued a detailed report recommending the federal Bureau of Prisons make significant changes in its handling of providers of Muslim religious services to increase security and reduce possible extremism.

“Our review found that while the BOP has not identified widespread problems with inmate radicalization and terrorist recruiting, chaplaincy services in the BOP remain vulnerable to infiltration by religious extremists, and supervision practices in BOP chapels need strengthening,” the report concluded.

Released Wednesday (May 5), the 60-page report includes 16 recommendations from the Office of the Inspector General related to how the prison system screens and recruits religious services providers, relies on Muslim chaplains and supervises religious activity.

Bureau spokesman Dan Dunne said prison officials support the recommendations and expect to enact those that are not already in place. He said steps have already been taken to prevent “infiltration by religious extremists” within the bureau’s 105 correctional facilities.

“There’s always a possibility that certain individuals would attempt to try and use prisons for radicalization and recruitment of inmates,” Dunne told Religion News Service. “At this time, we actually feel that we have controls in place to minimize the possibility of this kind of activity.”

The review began in March 2003 after Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., requested that the inspector general’s office investigate how Muslim chaplains were endorsed after questions arose about possible connections between endorsing organizations and terrorism.

About 9,000 _ or 6 percent _ of the prison system’s 150,000 inmates seek Muslim religious services, the report stated.

The Bureau of Prisons is facing a “critical shortage” of Muslim chaplains, with 10 throughout the system whose work is supplemented by contractors and volunteers. As of September 2003, the bureau included 56 Muslim contractors and 108 Muslim volunteers who are authorized to enter the prison system more than four times a year.

In some cases, Muslim inmates lead other inmates, especially for Juma prayer services, held on Fridays.

The report said Muslim chaplains said some inmates are “radicalized” by other inmates and a version of Islam called “Prison Islam” surfaces when inmates distort the religion to include prison values about gangs and loyalty among prisoners.

“The Muslim chaplains said that Prison Islam especially thrives in institutions that do not have a staff chaplain, contractor or volunteer to lead inmates’ Islamic services such as the Juma prayer,” the report said.

Prison officials said such inmate-led services can be a security concern but are necessary because of the lack of people available to lead them.

The report recommended increased supervision of chapels, including the possible use of audio and video monitoring of worship areas or an Internet video feed for Juma prayer by a Muslim chaplain from the Bureau of Prisons.

The inspector general’s office also urged that prison officials screen the doctrinal beliefs of all providers of religious services.

“The BOP’s screening of candidates’ religious and doctrinal beliefs should be for security purposes only, not to assess the purity of candidates’ views or serve as an approval or endorsement of their religious beliefs,” the report said.

Screening should determine if their beliefs include an endorsement of violence or support of terrorism, it said. Screeners also should inquire about applicants’ foreign travel, organizational memberships and possible receipt of funds from foreign governments.

Dunne said current screening processes for religious services providers include criminal background checks and “integrity interviews” to ensure that prospective employees will not create a security risk.

He said there is a “balance” between giving inmates an opportunity to practice their religious beliefs while satisfying safety concerns.

The report noted that there is currently a hiring freeze on Muslim chaplains. The Bureau of Prisons has halted its acceptance of endorsements from national Islamic organizations until it learns from the FBI whether it is appropriate to work with them.

The inspector general’s office suggested that the bureau consider alternative endorsing requirements, such as recommendations from local or regional organizations in certain cases.

The report also recommended the bureau give staff members basic training in Islam and rely more on Muslim chaplains for recruitment of providers of religious services and consultation about issues of radicalization.

DEA/PH END BANKS