Harris County Jails:
We have come a long way since 2014. Chaplaincy department was operated by outside Church organization, their head chaplain did not allow us to hold Jumah or Taleem in the Chaples. During the tenure of Sheriff Hickman, this outsie Church contract was terminated. Dr Don Savell was appointed Chaplaincy Manager and he provided us equitable access to hold Jumah and Taleem services weekly. Dr Savell and Director of Reentry Dept at the time, Ms Herring were our biggest supporters because of their professional educational and pastoral life experiences. With their recommendation Salaam’s founder was appointed Islamic Coordinator for Sheriff’s Office, where all Jails matters concerning Muslims were related to the Salaam Reentry. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez appointing Imam Hamid Haridizi was another milestone. Current Chaplaincy Manager, Chaplain Natasha Young and Dr. Don Savell made this appointment possible. They also encouraged us to provide Qurans to the Jail Commissary for free distribution to all inmates. CONSISTENT PROFESSIONAL WEEKLY VOLUNTEER SERVICES have been the key for us to getting this far.
Meeting brothers and sisters at the first point of entry into the big business of incarceration, a chaotic and confusing situation for many without any support inside, especially for Muslims and poor minorities. When we started in 2014, the environment was hostile to not only inmates but the volunteers. We were treated like inmates by some Sergeants. REENTRY JOURNEY BEGINS INSIDE. If we are not providing consistent volunteer services to the affected population inside i.e. jails and prisons, we will not able to meet their needs upon release to address the risk of them going back.
If we were not part of the Chaplaincy team, there would have been no-one available to intervene with Muslims who are sad and angry with the system. Imam Hardizi has been the blessed Sheppard for the brothers and sisters struggling with so much within. side.
All Texas County Jails needs a Muslim Chaplain, even if the Islamic Centers have to provide a part-time Muslim Chaplain. We were blessed to have ISGH sponsor Muslim Chaplain to serve three time a week. That is when Chaplain Natasha Young and Dr Don Savell went to bat for us to get a full-time Muslim Chaplain, visiting brothers individually and small groups in pods/cells, their living quarters; and weekly Taleem and Jumah services in the Chapel.
Fort Bend County Jail:
On May 25, 2022 we received an email from ISGH Outreach Coordinator, who forwarded the following email from Fort Bend Chaplain: “Hello, We have an inmate by the name of … who asked us to write the Islamic Society and see if you could help him find a place to live when he gets out of jail. He is currently in the Fort Bend County Jail and says he will be released sometime this week.”
Our first contact with Fort Bend Chaplain and his assistant started on June 1, 2022. We shared and address where brother being released to go to. We offered starting weekly services at Fort Bend Jail.
Salaam founder submitted hisr volunteer applications to the Chaplain. Founder was approved to volunteer June 14, 2022. It took the Jail Head Chaplain few months to schedule first Juma’ service in October. When I arrived few minutes before my appointment the Chaplain was not there for my first service. Instead, his assistant escorted me from one pod to another to find a place to hold Jumah. Poor Assistant kept calling Chaplain but he did not respond. He keeps saying he is in the building. One detention officer finally let us in a pod and Asst. Chaplain but were told they were not ready. So after hour and half drive to the Fort Bend Jail, founder has to go back home.
I related the incident to the Chaplain Oct 20, 2022. Here is Chaplain’s reply to the founder: “I am sorry that took place, I have trained Chaplain … to make decisions when I cannot be here. I have spoken to the staff here and the officer should have allowed you to proceed with the service. I was under the impression that Chaplain White took you to a different tank and you were able to minister to inmates there. I will talk to him about this and see what did take place and why. For now, we will go ahead and wait till they allow the inmates to congregate in the multi-purpose room if that is what you would like. I will notify you when this happens, really not sure how long that will be, with this COVID still going around. Thank you for your time.”
The founder never heard from the chaplain for over year and a half. Then someone from Harris County Jail Sheriff’s office who worked with Salaam Reentry and have appreciated and praised our work, moved to Fort Bend Sheriff’s office. With advocacy inside things turned around and Ahmet Gunduz was finally start holding Taleem Wednesday evenings. He has been serving since then, starting with only one brother that has grown considerable since then.
Purpose of relating the above scenario is as challenging as the job may be, there are good people of inside but community leaders must invest in human and financial resources to fulfill our obligation of Fard-e-Kifaya and serve the most forgotten Muslim Communities inside. We are hopeful of our children and grandchildren to walk the walk.
Travis County Jail:
Syed Fawad Raza has been holding Weekly Juma’ congregation since June 14, 2004 here. Ahmet Gunduz and Syed Fawad Raza started volunteering weekly in Harris County Jails, a decade ago. Few years ago Br Fawad moved to Kentucky and organized and implemented weekly Juma’ in local county jail there, following Harris County’s Muslim Mentor Routine. The weekly Juma’ in Kentucky jails continues to this day.
Austin area Muslim Community is very organized and had excellent working relations with Senior Chaplain Dale Brown, M.Div, Ph. D. a highly qualified Chaplain and a Sheppard for all. Travis County Sheriff’s has a part-time position Muslim Chaplain position that we are trying to fill by a Peer Mentor who accepted Islam during his incarceration. As a Muslim Chaplain is appointed in Travis County, Br Fawad will move to another surrounding county and start Juma services there insha Allah. Salaam reentry has been receiving many letters from Bexar County Jail in San Antonio requesting for Qurans and Islam Beliefs and Teachings. We are in need of a local brother who could hold weekly Jumah.
With Salaam’s secretary in Austin/San Antonio area, Salaam Reentry plans to explore the possibility of starting a Human Development Center with Joseph Clark’s and Ramon Curry’s collaboration. Travis and other surrounding counties have resources that can be used to facilitate successful transition of returning citizens from Texas jails and prisons.
We have come a long way since 2014. Chaplaincy department was operated by outside Church organization, their head chaplain did not allow us to hold Jumah or Taleem in the Chaples. During the tenure of Sheriff Hickman, this outsie Church contract was terminated. Dr Don Savell was appointed Chaplaincy Manager and he provided us equitable access to hold Jumah and Taleem services weekly. Dr Savell and Director of Reentry Dept at the time, Ms Herring were our biggest supporters because of their professional educational and pastoral life experiences. With their recommendation Salaam’s founder was appointed Islamic Coordinator for Sheriff’s Office, where all Jails matters concerning Muslims were related to the Salaam Reentry. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez appointing Imam Hamid Haridizi was another milestone. Current Chaplaincy Manager, Chaplain Natasha Young and Dr. Don Savell made this appointment possible. They also encouraged us to provide Qurans to the Jail Commissary for free distribution to all inmates. CONSISTENT PROFESSIONAL WEEKLY VOLUNTEER SERVICES have been the key for us to getting this far.
Meeting brothers and sisters at the first point of entry into the big business of incarceration, a chaotic and confusing situation for many without any support inside, especially for Muslims and poor minorities. When we started in 2014, the environment was hostile to not only inmates but the volunteers. We were treated like inmates by some Sergeants. REENTRY JOURNEY BEGINS INSIDE. If we are not providing consistent volunteer services to the affected population inside i.e. jails and prisons, we will not able to meet their needs upon release to address the risk of them going back.
If we were not part of the Chaplaincy team, there would have been no-one available to intervene with Muslims who are sad and angry with the system. Imam Hardizi has been the blessed Sheppard for the brothers and sisters struggling with so much within. side.
All Texas County Jails needs a Muslim Chaplain, even if the Islamic Centers have to provide a part-time Muslim Chaplain. We were blessed to have ISGH sponsor Muslim Chaplain to serve three time a week. That is when Chaplain Natasha Young and Dr Don Savell went to bat for us to get a full-time Muslim Chaplain, visiting brothers individually and small groups in pods/cells, their living quarters; and weekly Taleem and Jumah services in the Chapel.
Fort Bend County Jail:
On May 25, 2022 we received an email from ISGH Outreach Coordinator, who forwarded the following email from Fort Bend Chaplain: “Hello, We have an inmate by the name of … who asked us to write the Islamic Society and see if you could help him find a place to live when he gets out of jail. He is currently in the Fort Bend County Jail and says he will be released sometime this week.”
Our first contact with Fort Bend Chaplain and his assistant started on June 1, 2022. We shared and address where brother being released to go to. We offered starting weekly services at Fort Bend Jail.
Salaam founder submitted hisr volunteer applications to the Chaplain. Founder was approved to volunteer June 14, 2022. It took the Jail Head Chaplain few months to schedule first Juma’ service in October. When I arrived few minutes before my appointment the Chaplain was not there for my first service. Instead, his assistant escorted me from one pod to another to find a place to hold Jumah. Poor Assistant kept calling Chaplain but he did not respond. He keeps saying he is in the building. One detention officer finally let us in a pod and Asst. Chaplain but were told they were not ready. So after hour and half drive to the Fort Bend Jail, founder has to go back home.
I related the incident to the Chaplain Oct 20, 2022. Here is Chaplain’s reply to the founder: “I am sorry that took place, I have trained Chaplain … to make decisions when I cannot be here. I have spoken to the staff here and the officer should have allowed you to proceed with the service. I was under the impression that Chaplain White took you to a different tank and you were able to minister to inmates there. I will talk to him about this and see what did take place and why. For now, we will go ahead and wait till they allow the inmates to congregate in the multi-purpose room if that is what you would like. I will notify you when this happens, really not sure how long that will be, with this COVID still going around. Thank you for your time.”
The founder never heard from the chaplain for over year and a half. Then someone from Harris County Jail Sheriff’s office who worked with Salaam Reentry and have appreciated and praised our work, moved to Fort Bend Sheriff’s office. With advocacy inside things turned around and Ahmet Gunduz was finally start holding Taleem Wednesday evenings. He has been serving since then, starting with only one brother that has grown considerable since then.
Purpose of relating the above scenario is as challenging as the job may be, there are good people of inside but community leaders must invest in human and financial resources to fulfill our obligation of Fard-e-Kifaya and serve the most forgotten Muslim Communities inside. We are hopeful of our children and grandchildren to walk the walk.
Travis County Jail:
Syed Fawad Raza has been holding Weekly Juma’ congregation since June 14, 2004 here. Ahmet Gunduz and Syed Fawad Raza started volunteering weekly in Harris County Jails, a decade ago. Few years ago Br Fawad moved to Kentucky and organized and implemented weekly Juma’ in local county jail there, following Harris County’s Muslim Mentor Routine. The weekly Juma’ in Kentucky jails continues to this day.
Austin area Muslim Community is very organized and had excellent working relations with Senior Chaplain Dale Brown, M.Div, Ph. D. a highly qualified Chaplain and a Sheppard for all. Travis County Sheriff’s has a part-time position Muslim Chaplain position that we are trying to fill by a Peer Mentor who accepted Islam during his incarceration. As a Muslim Chaplain is appointed in Travis County, Br Fawad will move to another surrounding county and start Juma services there insha Allah. Salaam reentry has been receiving many letters from Bexar County Jail in San Antonio requesting for Qurans and Islam Beliefs and Teachings. We are in need of a local brother who could hold weekly Jumah.
With Salaam’s secretary in Austin/San Antonio area, Salaam Reentry plans to explore the possibility of starting a Human Development Center with Joseph Clark’s and Ramon Curry’s collaboration. Travis and other surrounding counties have resources that can be used to facilitate successful transition of returning citizens from Texas jails and prisons.