A Tiverton man incarcerated at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston has been granted the right to wear an Apache headband in accordance with his religious beliefs.
The Rhode Island Department of Corrections repeatedly denied the inmate’s request to wear a White Mountain Apache Tribe headband, but backed down in response to a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island and the Prisoners Rights Litigation Clinic at Roger Williams University School of Law.
“The corrections department basically didn’t recognize Native American religious traditions,” said attorney Jared Goldstein of Roger Williams.
The inmate, formerly known as Brian Brownell, recently changed his legal name to Wolf Pawochawog-Mequinosh to express his Apache heritage and faith. He said that an Apache elder had given him the name as a child.
Pawochawog-Mequinosh is currently serving a life sentence for two first degree sexual assault convictions.
According to the ACLU, federal law prohibits states from making it difficult for inmates to practice their faith, unless there’s a compelling reason to do so.
“A headband doesn’t create any security issues,” said ACLU executive director Steven Brown. “And inmates from other religious traditions are allowed to wear headgear.”
Under the terms of the settlement, the Rhode Island Department of Corrections has also agreed to take steps to protect the religious freedom of all inmates.
“They have also agreed that they have to adopt a policy within the next four months to ensure that people of all religions have some ability to have their religion accommodated,” said Brown.
In the meantime, Brown said, Pawochawog-Mequinosh now has his headband, and he’s wearing it.
