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| Inmate denied Bible tapes |
| By San Jose Mercury News |
| Published: 05/18/2001 |
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Murder suspect Daniel Johnson sits in his Oakland jail cell with a King James Bible in his hands, struggling to understand the ancient words. His spiritual desire is strong, but his reading comprehension is weak. And now, Johnson's plea to listen to religious tapes -- such as actor Charlton Heston's biblical dramatizations and the Rev. Jerry Falwell's evangelical sermons -- in his jail cell has been quashed. A judge this week denied Johnson's request for a tape player, agreeing with jail officials that he could fashion the machine into a weapon. The judge told the inmate to learn to read. But his attorney is fighting the decision. Johnson's attorney said his client needs to hear the words, best achieved through religious readings on tape. Horowitz said he plans to fight the lower court's decision at the 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco on grounds that his client's religious freedoms are being violated. Even taking into account jail security concerns, Horowitz said the government must abide by the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, which means the jail must take the 'least restrictive means'' of preventing someone's practice of religion. Alameda County sheriff's spokesman Jim Knudsen replied that the jail is not infringing on Johnson's religious rights. But he said the jail has a strict ban on tape recorders, even in the library. As an alternative, Johnson has the opportunity to ask one of 25 volunteers to read him Bible passages a few times a week, Knudsen said. |
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