Native Americans in Prison: The Struggle for Religious Freedom

Authors

Stephanie Beran

Date of this Version

2005

Document Type

Article

Comments

Published in Nebraska Anthropologist Vol. 20 (2005). Copyright © Stephanie Beran; published by The University of Nebraska-Lincoln AnthroGroup.

Abstract

Native peoples account for a disproportionate number of inmates in the current American prison population. Due to differences in the character of practice between Native and Judeo-Christian religions, it has been suggested that Native inmates face challenges that other prisoners do not because their religious needs are poorly understood. In the course of this paper I will discuss the disparities in the religious accommodation of Native inmates, explore how the religious rights of imprisoned Natives have been violated, and present arguments concerning the validity of spirituality as a means of inmate therapy and rehabilitation.