BS"D 12 Kislev 5773 (November 26, 2012)
BOP Showcase: FCI Ft. Dix - West and FPC Otisville Camp
We live in what is considered to be the greatest country in the world, which was founded upon the principles
of democracy and freedom, along with the principle of "universal equality". Not only does this country follow
these principles in regard to their citizens who are free people, but these rights are also guaranteed for those
who are incarcerated in this country. Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion are also among those
freedoms accorded to all citizens - both free and imprisoned.
In order for the BOP to fulfill the accordance of Freedom of Religion to all people under their custody, they
have made a system which accommodates each religion. Basically, the BOP gives certain basics to each
religion, which has been deemed to be appropriate so the practitioners of that religion can fulfill their duties.
The BOP does recognize in accommodating those inmates who are sincere to accommodate them on a higher
level. Therefore, the BOP has chosen a few institutions which will be set aside to accommodate religious
groups in a better manner. For instance, there is a "Life Connections" Program for Christians. There are
some other institutions for Muslims. And for the Orthodox Jews, there are two institutions: FCI Ft. Dix -
West, NJ and FPC Otisville Camp, NY.
By nature, whenever a person achieves something, he is proud of the accomplishment and advertises it. The
same goes with the United States of America as a whole: they are proud to be considered a free country,
based on democratic ideals, and they advertise all over the world - both inside and outside the country - that
this country is the dream of the world. The same goes with this country advertising that we have Freedom of
Religion, even for inmates. And thus the term "showcase prison", where the BOP accommodates the religious
needs of different religions.
Whenever a religious Jew goes to jail, or when a defendant has an argument before the Court that he won't be
able to abide by his religion in jail, the rebuttal by judges and prosecutors is that there are 2 prisons in the
U.S. which will accommodate that person's needs: FCI Ft. Dix - West and FPC Otisville Camp.
(Previously, a defendant wouldn't be able to properly be able to observe his religion if he were to go to prison,
and this would be an extenuating circumstance which could warrant that the judge couldn't send this person to
prison. Thus they provide this "showcase prison" so they can, in fact, send that person to prison. In fact,
according to the Constitution, this government must provide each person with the ability to practice their
religion. If they cannot provide this in the prison environment, legally, they should not be allowed to send that
person to prison. And for this reason, the BOP has created a "showcase prison" to accommodate these needs).
These Jewish "Showcase Prisons" have the ability and facilities to provide for their Jewish inmates communal
prayers with minyan and reading from the Torah every day, as well as numerous seforim (religious books) to
enable Torah classes at all levels to be provided. Many less-religious inmates also wish to take the opportunity
to attend Torah classes given by other inmates who had the benefit of a deeper Torah education. The reality
of Jewish facilities is sadly, at Ft. Dix - West, not as publicly made-out-to-be at this "Showcase Prison".
Regretfully, here at FCI Ft. Dix - West, the status of the prison is not checked. Anyone here can see that the
Religious Services Department does not run smoothly, efficiently or properly. The levels of support are not as
they should be. In fact, people who self-surrender to this prison see the services provided by the Religious
Services Department and are quite surprised and disappointed by what they find. The judges and prosecutors
had assured them that their religious needs would be met at this "showcase prison"; but, regretfully, in reality
this is not so. This is particularly so for the Jews, as this prison was advertised as a "showcase" specifically
for the Jews, to provide all of their religious needs while in the prison system.
As an example, it had been established for people who self-surrender here, that they are allowed to bring in
their tallis/tefillin as they come here. But now, Chaplain Mihyar has unilaterally changed this policy also, and
no longer allows it. This is the first experience a person now receives with being disappointed here, at this
"showcase prison".
It should be pointed out that, in years past, when religious Jews were in Court, they argued that their
religious freedoms and needs would not be able to be met if they were sent to prison. And this was a very
strong argument. In fact, because of this, often times judges would not sentence a religious Jew to prison
for this reason. Or if they were sentenced to prison time, it would be a very short sentence.
But, now the BOP has established certain "showcase prisons" to meet this need of religious Jews, so that the
judges shouldn't have to resort to not sending religious Jews to prison. Now the judges say that they have
these prisons where all of the religious needs and obligations of Jews are met. So now they can send them
to prison for any length of sentence they deem good in their eyes.
But in fact, although the BOP assures the judges this is so: that there are these "showcase prisons" where the
religious needs of Jews are met, this is not the case. Although the BOP Policy sets forth that these needs
must be met, the unilateral actions of the Chaplain have put an end to this.
The purpose of writing this article is to bring this situation to the attention of the Jewish community: to ensure
that this promise of the United States Constitution of Freedom of Religion and BOP Policy be fulfilled. As more
religious Jews, unfortunately, come into the system, and the demand for accommodation increases, the
facilities provided should be increased, rather than what is unfortunately the case at FCI Ft. Dix - West, which
is in serious decline. New Muslim chaplains are now defining BOP Policy in a manner that is diminishing and
endangering Constitutional rights and practices of the Jewish Community established over many years. The
term "showcase prison" should live up to its name.
If, in fact, for whatever reason the BOP can no longer, or no longer wishes to, provide Jewish inmates with their
religious needs, this is a greater punishment than the Court is legally allowed to hand down, and we wish it to be
informed to the judges and those in authority that the BOP no longer provides these rights and accommodations
for religious Jews.
Currently there are two fundamental issues which the Jewish Community here at FCI Ft. Dix - West requests
that the prison accommodate:
1) That the Chapel should be open all day, every day: 7 days/week, 365 days/year (which is, at the minimum,
not less than Recreation and Education facilities here at FCI Ft. Dix - West, as in many ways Chapel is more
important, as it represents Freedom of Religion as is guaranteed under the Constitution. This is essential to
perpetuate and enhance Torah classes and learning for all Jewish inmates, which enhances the rehabilitation
process).
2) That we should be allowed to observe Shabbosos and Festivals as required by Jewish Law and Tradition,
which include the 3 Shabbos/Festival Meals, plus Havdalah and Melava Malka to be held as communal events
for all Jewish inmates who wish to attend.
These 2 above issues are not accommodated well at all. And unfortunately they have become markedly worse
than what had previously been established here over the years.
Whoever can bring this to the attention of the proper authorities, to correct these issues, will be blessed min
HaShamayim. Thank you.
PLEASE READ THE ABOVE CAREFULLY AND SPREAD THIS MESSAGE TO WHOEVER MAY BE ABLE TO HELP. AND
YOU CAN HELP BY ENCOURAGING THOSE WHO CAN HELP, TO HELP.
