Folsom State Prison, services sometimes cancelled.

I hope someone can offer some advise. At Folsom State Prison in California, we are under the auspices of the Catholic Chaplaincy. The priest who is our "sponsor" is very, very difficult to work with. He makes it quite apparent that he does not welcome our program. Our programs are often not listed with the other religious offerings, our men on occasion have complained that they are not let out for our services. Rules that we are given often contradict previous rules given. This especially applies to ducat lists. We need more volunteers but were told we have enough. I avoid dealing with this individual as much as I can, and prefer to go through the Community Outreach Coordinator who has been more reasonable. However, last week when I questioned why one of our men was not allowed out for services (according to this inmate, the CO said that they were only releasing diabetics... whatever that means), the Community Outreach Coordinator said I would have to take it up with the priest. Which means... nothing will happen except I will get a good "talking to." Each time I have an issue to be addressed, the priest sidetracks the issue by bringing up a "rule" I am not following. (see above to contradictory rules!) In addition, he apparently seems to have no use for women in any sort of capacity. But I digress.

As I am reading this post, I see that I am venting and bringing in too many issues. So, bottom line is... since California unfortunately does not have a Buddhist chaplaincy program in any of our prisons, what can I do to make sure our men AND volunteers are treated with the same respect as those that go to Christian services? Do I file a complaint? Do I recruit legal aid? Do the men file a complaint? What happens to them by the system if they do?

This is just one of a myriad of issues that we face in the hopelessly overcrowded, nonfunctional, immoral California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Any help is appreciated. Diane

Tags: Buddhist, California, Folsom, State, chaplaincy, prison, system

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Permalink Reply by Diane Wilde on August 28, 2007 at 11:17am
Yes. If you know of any protocol for how to present an official Buddhist chaplaincy to CDC, it would be so appreciated! I am going to contact a friend who is a Buddhist chaplain (now in a hospital setting), who attended the first meeting in the Bay Area in regards to a Buddhist Chaplaincy in the prison setting. Perhaps we could start a group of people who are interested on this site.

Best to you. Diane
Permalink Reply by Diane Wilde on August 28, 2007 at 12:02pm
Let's talk more about this at our face to face meeting on Sept. 11th. Then we can decide how to proceed and who to involve... does that sound about right?
Permalink Reply by mary bailey on September 7, 2007 at 2:23pm
I am also having a difficult time in a state prison in Michigan. We have been involved for almost 5 years now. We are now down to 1 volunteer since I broke my leg a month ago. We have been unable to have any volunteer orientations for 1 1/2 years. There are 2 members of our Sangha who would be willing to assist in this prison experience. I am so frustrated since they are even cancelling services if a volunteer does not show up. However, we remain unable to get more volunteers admitted. What are the religious rights of the prisoners? Who would I go to for this information? Personally, I feel abused by the system and can well imagine how the prisoners must feel. There is a orientation in 10 days to which we have not been invited. I have sent a letter, called 7 times in the last week, - all to no avail. What do you suggest besides just being patient. I think rights are being trampled on.
Mary
Permalink Reply by Diane Wilde on September 7, 2007 at 3:00pm
Mary, you describe precisely our situation at Folsom Prison. We are told "Sorry, no service because there is no ducat list" or "Sorry, we scheduled another program." "You have enough volunteers... no more." We have been told that prisoners have to sign up for one religious service, for a year and cannot attend any others. It makes no sense, and the men came to us and complained. We complied - not knowing any better. One of our volunteers had the wonderful idea to get a copy of the CA Prisoners' Religious Rights document. (FYI - this is not the actual name... don't know its legal name.) We are HIGHLIGHTING the areas where prisoners' rights are ignored, rules are being made up by our "sponsor", or we volunteers are denied access. We are meeting with our "sponsor" this week to question the legality of what is going on. The challenge will be to stay mindful, in the moment and not adversarial. We have been patient for five years, trying to work with the prison establishment. The number of men who request Buddhist services has increased four fold. Yet, we are constantly treated as an irritant. So, I'll let you know how our meeting goes. Wish us luck!
Diane
Permalink Reply by mary bailey on September 12, 2007 at 9:31am
Dear Diane,
I was able to get a copy of the Prisoner's Religious Rights for Michigan. Thanks for the lead. It does not, however, provide very many rights. At least I have the rules and can understand the limits that are established. I was unable to get an orientation for the volunteers even though I wrote letters and called at least 7 times. The final contact told me that they were having an accreditation next week and I needed to be patient. I decided to use that as an opportunity of expressing generosity and compassion. I wanted to get mad but decided to take a few deep breaths and try to listen to what the other person was saying. So, I wished him good luck for the accreditation and said we would try to be patient. It was difficult but I think it may bear fruits in the future. Mary
Permalink Reply by Diane Wilde on September 18, 2007 at 7:08pm
Hi Mary,
I struggle with trying to stay compassionate as well. Our meeting with a prison representative got cancelled because that person was transferred. I have been given a new contact with whom I will be meeting next week. The CA Religious Rights of Prisoners is quite comprehensive and many of the "rules" we are told to follow are in direct violation of this document. So, moving on and hopefully we will have a productive meeting next week. Diane
Permalink Reply by Doug Gorman on January 11, 2008 at 10:18pm
We have had similar issues at Donovan State Prison, California Dept. of Corrections. We rely on the Catholic Clerk to type up the ducats, and then when he does, sometimes the Protestant Chaplain fails to sign them. Our Meditation times are scheduled when many of our men are scheduled to work in PIA, and they need the signed ducats to be excused from work. We have also had problems with Buddhist men requesting Vegetarian Meal cards; we have made this request in writing to the Chaplains and been told it would be taken care of, only to find out that nothing has been done. Every other religious group on our yard has a locked cabinet in the chapel in which they can store their materials, while the Buddhists have none. There have been numerous delays in the processing of a memo stating what materials Buddhist prisoners can have in their cells.
It seems that there is a general lack of respect for members of the Buddhist group at Donovan. The men inside have brought it up to our volunteers on numerous occasions. We counsel the men to practice patience, but they tell us they are the victims of discrimination. One example: the population on Yard 3 was transferred to Donovan from Lancaster in November of 2006; they had an established Sangha at Lancaster for four years; they requested Buddhist services at Donovan. Our group, working under the auspices of the Sweetwater Zen Center and the Buddhist Peace fellowship was not informed of the request until August of 2007; we have had volunteers going in twice a month every month, (though services have twice been cancelled due to "lockdowns") but still we have been unable to secure a cabinet where we could store a Buddha and a bell and some cushions. The men say it is because the Christians don't respect the Buddhists. The Chaplain tells us these things take time.
I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has experienced similar issues or could suggest a way of proceeding from here.
Thank you
Permalink Reply by mary bailey on January 12, 2008 at 9:31am
Dear Doug,
I can certainly appreciate your frustrations. I have noticed, within myself, a strong attachment to outcomes. Each time I do this, I experience frustration and anger. It seems that the prison experience has an energy of its own and it affects everyone who is near it. I recently broke my ankle when I fell from a ladder. I suffered physical and emotional pain. My life had changed and I was unable to be as independent as before. I noticed that, in my suffering, I often caused others to suffer. I was irritable, unkind, and ungenerous. Can you imagine how it must feel to be in a prison? To be working in an environment like that? To be surrounded by so many suffering people?
In some ways, we are fortunate. We actually have a locked cabinet and are allowed to store our Buddha and incense there. We cannot have a bell and use blankets for our "zafu". We still have not had a volunteer orientation for almost 3 years. However, we have had positive interactions with many of the staff. We are treated well and may even, on occasion, create a helpful influence. I remember a discussion I had with several guards concerning my experience fishing. What was my responsibility and relationship to the fish? It generated conversations for weeks. Another event was when I brought in the bell and the "ringer" for the service. I had always called in a "striker" until I realized the violence that was in that word and changed it to "ringer". Now, even 1 year later, people comment on that.
Our group still exists and seems to be helping the people that come and those who are around them. We discuss responsibility, anger, compassion, suffering, etc. in a profound and deep manner. We generate respect for each other and others. I sometimes think of the Dalai Lama. He had to flee his country and sees his people suffer. However, he continues to spread the message of love and compassion instead of anger and resentment. I think he is a very good example for us to follow.
I try to remember the 4 steps: 1. Be present to what is happening 2. Listen without judgement 3. Respond in a way that is helpful and does not cause injury 4. Do not be attached to the outcome.
I often use the prison experience as a bell of mindfulness. Love, Mary
Permalink Reply by Diane Wilde on January 13, 2008 at 11:08pm
Doug, you could have written my list of problems. This is exactly what we are going through at Folsom. I wish I had some cogent pieces of wisdom on how to handle the situation. I don't. Well, maybe one piece of advise. The situation is as follows... I went on a month long Buddhist pilgrimage to India with 14 members of my sangha in Oct./Nov. 07. Before I left, I told our sponsoring Catholic chaplain my brown card would expire by the time I returned. Not a problem he said. It took an additional six weeks after my return to get a renewal. No services during that time. I called constantly. To get my renewal through the bureaucracy, I finally resorted to a very, very stern letter to the Chaplain and the Assistant Warden. I reminded them of the mens religious rights, as well as the time our volunteers are putting in. I got a call a day after they received the letter and was told my CLETS clearance was approved. Finally saw the men last week for the first time since October. They were so grateful for our presence and asked many, many times... "You are coming back???? We still have services?"

We are desperately short of volunteers. All volunteers have full time jobs, and we are trying to hold a space to practice meditation for approximately 70 men, in three yards, once a week. I have had four potential volunteers quit in the past year because I could not get gate passes within six months after they applied for service. I have been waiting since Sept. for a gate pass for a wonderful young man who is still hanging in there. (Thank you Steve, if you happen to read this...)

I have made prison work a huge part of my practice. I could not continue with the frustrations if I did use it as practice. It is probably the most important part of my practice. However, being an engaged Buddhist... I want to be part of the change that is so overdue and so necessary in our California penal system. Trying to retain equanimity is my practice. I struggle with this.

Diane
Permalink Reply by Doug Gorman on January 20, 2008 at 11:31pm
Diane, you mentioned getting a copy of the California Religious Rights of Prisoners. Do you know where I could find a copy of this document? We are trying to set up a meeting with the Chaplain in charge of volunteer programs at Donovan, and having a copy of that might help.
Thank you for your reply and your contributions to this discussion. Over the past two years prison work has become an important part of my practice, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue sharing the Dharma with others who are committed to finding a way to be free of suffering that doesn't necessarily require the full cooperation of the CDC. On the other hand, I don't understand the resistance or lack of cooperation from the prison administration. Some of the inmates are quick to call it discrimination. I don't know what it is, but I need to keep working on it.

Doug
Permalink Reply by mary bailey on January 21, 2008 at 7:56am
Dear Doug,
Google is the answer for most informational problems. Google the "Department of Corrections" for the state you are seeking. Then, link to Policy Directives- then programs/leisure time activities/then religious beliefs and practice. It might be slightly different for states, however, just browse around and you will find the official information. Actually, this is a very important site since it will give you information on many prison policies.
I also question the quick response to discrimination. The real need is to observe one's personal reaction to feeling mistreated. The prison environment is filled with suffering people. It is not surprising that it is angry, resistant, and uncooperative. Actually, it provides a rich opportunity to practice. Hope this helps.
Mary
Permalink Reply by mary bailey on April 30, 2008 at 9:06am
Dear Friends,
I would just like to say that after 2 1/2 years, we finally got a volunteer orientation. Now, we shall have 3 volunteers for our weekly 2 hour meditation buddhist service. I sincerely believe that this would have occurred in its own time. All my frustrations, irritations, and complaints really made no difference. Therefore, I can only look within myself for their origination. Too bad- I would have preferred to find the "enemy" out there. Love, Mary

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