ment of Corrections, testified that Tarot cards have not posed a security concern within the CDC and that no instances of inmates abusing Tarot cards to manipulate or extort other inmates had come to his attention.  The States of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina and Washington all permit inmates to have Tarot cards.  The departments of correction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons of the states of Alabama, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont and Wyoming permit inmates to have tarot cards.  One can practice divination using the flight of birds, patterns of pebbles tossed on the ground or skrying in a glass of water.  It isn’t possible to keep inmates away from all of the possible things one could use.  I pointed out that the canteen in the institution probably sold playing cards, which, as it happens, were derived from Tarot and could be used as a substitute for Tarot in a pinch.  There are already laws and regulations in place to deal with inmates who practice extortion or intimidation, and there was no allegations being made that Goodman was engaging in such activity.

       The defendants claimed that images from tarot cards were used by gangs, but I pointed out in my deposition that a crucifix is also a symbol commonly used by both gang members and common criminals, yet I didn’t see the IDOC attempting to ban that symbol from its institutions. The truth is that there are hundreds of common, as well as religious, symbols that have been used as gang symbols. 

       Two days before I was to fly into Chicago in December 2003 to testify in this matter the case was settled out of court.  Goodman got his Tarot.

       "Being in classification, I get to see how our department 'classifies' various groups," I was told by Todd, a Wiccan with the San Joachin County Sheriff's Office in California.  "Currently Pagans/Wiccans are considered an 'alternative disruptive group',” Todd told me, “In other words they aren't considered a criminal gang but the ARE considered a 'custody problem'.  We've had Wiccans in our facility and the attitude has been that they are 'freaks' or 'devil worshippers'.  The one staff member in our department that is out of the closet has said she knows she'll never get promotions and special assignments... It is surprising how backwards my county/department is out here in sunny California.”   Todd went on to say in a later note:  “That's the strange thing.  Eight years working at this deparment/facility and I've only seen four actual Wiccans booked in (declared themselves Wiccan at the interview in booking) and one actual Satanist (LeVay's church member card and all).  We don't get many protests around here.  It just seems to be a general perception throughout the department.”

 

Kerr Cuhulain

Careful, Conclusion

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Text Box: there are hundreds of common, as well as religious, symbols that have been used as gang symbols

Here’s some links to anti-defamation sites of groups that have worked with issues such as these over the years.

Dispatches:  Official Newsletter of Officers of Avalon