DLN Issues : American Indians in Jail : Rights and AbusesFor more information see the DLN Coalition, "American Indians in Jail : Rights and Abuses" Working Group page.
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Much of the below information comes from or concerns the South Dakota Prisoner Support Group, whose purpose is to "provide support to inmates in jails and prisons and their families, and to prevent abuse of incarcerated men, woman and children of all racial and ethnic backgrounds." The South Dakota Prisoner Support Group is a multi-racial/ethnic group. "We do not offer legal advice, We are not attorneys nor do we practice law in any way. We do offer referrals, links, websites, information, news, as well as share our own experiences, problems, in regards to our incarcerated family members/friends." Their Yahoo Groups address is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SouthDakotaPrisonerSupportGroup/. For more information on the SDPSG, to offer assistance or donate, contact Marletta at pachecomars@rushmore.com.
 SD Prisoner Support Group Pen pal List at SPECULA.
SPECULA is maintained by Sigrid, who notes, "The goal of this page is to help prisoners getting in touch with the outer world where they can get fresh impulses for the prison world is a world for itself with its own rules many of which are not valid outside. Prison life for sure tests the emotional side of a person."
Other penpal listings at DLN
SD Prisoner Support Group Newsletter - September 2004.
View as PDF document
SD Prisoner Support Group Newsletter - Nov to Dec 2003.
View as PDF document
Complaint and memorandum in support of prison sweat ceremonies being run according to protocol set down by Chief Looking Horse
FROM HAZEL BONNER:
Attached is a complaint and memorandum in support that I researched and wrote for inmates in the NDSP. They filed it pro-se after several attorneys refused to take the case.
On November 7, Chief Judge Hovland of the Sowestern Division of the District Court of North Dakota, ruled that they had stated claims of violations under the First Amendment and the Institutionalized Persons Act.
The claims are that the prison sweat ceremony should be run according to protocol set down by Chief Looking Horse at the Council of Elders last spring and not in a manner controlled by the prison. The inmates claim that all religious rites and services are conducted by qualified persons, except their sacred inipi ceremony. It is run by a person who does not speak the language and who is picked by the prison. Attorneys looking at it told them they were lucky to have a sweat lodge and shouldn't complain about the way it is operated.
Complaint. Joe Brown, Christopher Darrel and Mitch West, on Behalf of Indigenous Inmates at the North Dakota State Prison vs. Tim Schuetzle, Warden, North Dakota State Prison; Patrick Branson, Deputy Warden of Operations, NDSP; Jean Sullivan, Unit Manager, NDSP Read document in PDF format here.
Memorandum in Support. Joe Brown, Christopher Darrel and Mitch West, on Behalf of Indigenous Inmates at the North Dakota State Prison vs. Tim Schuetzle, Warden, North Dakota State Prison; Patrick Branson, Deputy Warden of Operations, NDSP; Jean Sullivan, Unit Manager, NDSP Read document here.
Needed -- donations of shawls, sweet grass, sage, flat cedar and Pow Wow supplies to prisoners
Prison Specific Info/Donation Information
SDPSG presented certificate of appreciation by the Native American Council of Tribes, Inc.
Prison Families Policy -- Request to allow return of prison families to prison pow wows
SD Prisoner Support Group Newsletter - May 2003.
View as PDF document
SD Prisoner Support Group Newsletter Vol. 3 2002 (August - December).
Download as Word Doc.
Download as PDF file. There were a few conversion problems with formatting and font styles are different.
SD Prisoner Support Group June-July Newsletter 2002. Please note this correction to the newsletter: As reported in the newsletter, the SD Legislature's State-Tribal Relations Committee will be meeting on Sept. 13, but the issue of Adult Native Americans in the State's Penal System will not be addressed at that meeting. The issue of the prisons will come up perhaps in the October meeting. The exact date will be posted when scheduled.
This file is in Acrobat PDF format. To be able to view it you will need a Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't have it, you may download it for free here.)
Memorial Walk 2002. Article and pictures by Marletta Pacheco
More News and Articles
 February 25, 2003 Subcommittee of the State-Tribal
Relations Committee Minutes
(2003 March)
April Powwow at the Women's Prison
(2003 March)
February 25, 2003 Subcommittee of the State-Tribal
Relations Committee
Marletta Pacheco (2003 March)
Brief on issues discussed.
Twylla Turney update on 2003 Feb 25 meeting
Twylla Turney (2003 March)
Brief on issues discussed.
STUDY SHOWS RACIAL DISPARITY: S.D. LEGAL SYSTEM NEEDS REFORM, RESEARCHER SAYS
Argus Leader (2003 Feb 13)
VOLUNTEER EARNS HONOR FOR HELPING INMATES
Argus Leader (8 Feb 2003)
BILL KEITH TURNEY MEMORIAL SUICIDE PREVENTION SERVICE
Black Hills Peoples News (Feb 2003)
Prison population boom has state seeking space Argus Leader (16 Jan 2003)
Coming home - many doors closed
Parents released from prison face barriers to rebuilding family Hazel Bonner (30 Dec 2002)
Child support enforcement policies need review
Polices for low income non-custodial parents counterproductive Hazel Bonner (30 Dec 2002)
Dozen inmates die in South Dakota Prisons during 2002--
Only two were serving life without parole sentences Hazel Bonner (17 Dec 2002)
South Dakota State Tribal Relations Meeting Minutes for 14 Nov 2002
Serial Killer in Prison Poem by Marletta Pacheco
Indian beadwork not allowed on any property in state prison -- Use of colors said to represent gang affiliation by Hazel Bonner (24 Nov 2002)
Parole board specializes in making mistakes by Hazel Bonner (24 November 2002)
A Mother's Pain by Hazel Bonner (24 November 2002)
Two legislative groups hear different reports about inmate deaths
Chris Hill's mother tells group two tragedies could have been
prevented (19 November 2002)
Early report reveals justice disparities Rapid City Journal (15 November 2002)
The National Corrections Health Care Report (November 2002)
Meierhenry named to state Supreme Court Argus Leader (9 November 2002)
Pre-sentence jail stays reviewed Argus Leader (9 November 2002)
New Retaliation against the Prayer Warriors at Montana State Prison Posted by Brigitte Thimiakis (9 November 2002)
Study: Indians jailed more often Argus Leader (3 Nov 2002)
Official Report of Race and SD Justice(?)
Tribal ordinance honoring state and federal convictions disturbing Hazel Bonner, Black Hills People's News editorial (23 October 2002)
Court Racial Study Advances (22 October 2002)
Indians Face Disparities in Justice (22 October 2002)
Indian Country jails see record growth (5 August 2002)
INCARCERATED INDIANS: A continuing series revealing glaring disparities in the judicial systems for
American Indians --
PART 1: A view of the distorted statistics from initial police contact to
denial of parole Ruth Steinberger
Legislative Panel to Study Indian Issues (1 August 2002)
A legislative panel has agreed to study a wide range of alleged
problems in the way American Indians are treated in South Dakota's prisons
and county jails.
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Photograph--Alfred Bone Shirt Sr. wearing a peace medal.