Intersections of Race, Religion, and Inmate Culture

Abstract

SUMMARY Over the past decades, research on Islam in American prisons has failed to fully capture the essence of the prison Muslim movement because it has focused mainly upon religious rights and management issues. This paper articulates the real meaning of the Muslim prison movement by examining the historical development of Islam within the American correctional system using relevant literature, court cases, and other documents. First, the study presents various stages of Islamic growth in American prisons to illustrate the changes that the movement has encountered. Second, the paper uses a three-dimensional approach that combines race, religion, and inmate culture to identify the main factors that have contributed to the development of Islam in American prisons. The study concludes by addressing the significance of the prison Muslim movement for the reform possibilities of those who accept Islam while incarcerated.