by Stan Griffin
Lawtey Correctional Institute is located in Bradford County, northern Florida. It houses 791 men living in seven separate dormitories. and has a staff of 239. Unlike any other U. S. prison, however, those confined are being allowed to follow and practice extensively their religious beliefs.
Late in the fall of 2003, inmates at Lawtey were informed
it was being converted to a "faith-based institution." Almost
immediately, 111 prisoners requested and received transfers to other
installations (without bureaucratic delays).
Earlier, announcements about the new policy were made at other Florida prisons. It didn’t take long to fill the 111 places. To have a transfer approved to Lawtey, it is only necessary that a request be filed. Conditions for approval are: (1) a man’s record must show good behavior for at least 12 months; and (2) there must be space for them at Lawtey. Applications are usually honored immediately. There is no "quota" for any specific religious denominations.
There are currently members of 26 denominations incarcerated in Lawtey, including Christian (among them Catholic, Jehovah Witness, and Mormon), Jewish, Buddhist, and Islam. Five hundred volunteers have been recruited to represent the inmates’ faiths. They provide services and resources. "No state funds will be spent on the delivery of faith-based programs."
The men get job assignments and participate in education projects during normal working hours. Activities take place seven days a week. All are strictly voluntary.
Some of the programs now scheduled for presentation are: (1) Bible Studies; (2) Choir Practice; (3) Religious Counseling; (4) Family Life; (5) Parenting; (6) Personal Growth; (7) Anger Management; and (8) panels on Life Skills and Victim Impact.
Florida Governor Jeb Bush visited Lawtey on December 24 to make the first public announcement of the new system. He congratulated the inmates for committing themselves "to a higher authority."
Florida Correction Secretary James Crosby Jr. said, "We’ve developed a cocoon... where they can practice their faith and not have ... severe negative pressures and interactions that ... take place in ... (other) institutions."
A recent transfer from Manatee County, Marlin Cliburn, said, "My life was headed down the wrong road. I’ve kind of seen the light ... I see this as a turning point in my life."
An official of the Florida American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has called Lawtey, " ... a major constitutional showdown over government funding for religious programs ..."