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Jail Chaplain Settles Her Lawsuit Against Sheriff and County

By Howard M. Friedman

Tuesday's Brownsville (TX) Herald reports on the settlement of a federal lawsuit brought last year by volunteer jail chaplain Gail Hanson against Cameron County, Texas and Sheriff Omar Lucio after Lucio banned Hanson from the county's jails. Hanson says the ban was imposed because she criticized jail operations and the treatment of female inmates.  Lucio counters that Hanson created a security risk by becoming too emotionally involved with some of the inmates. Under the settlement agreement, Hanson will have to give notice to the county and give it a reasonable time to correct the situation before she speaks out in a public forum or to the media about any jail conditions of concern to her. She also agreed that she would report to law enforcement officials any conduct that she believes is a criminal offense, and agreed not to pass messages between inmates. In return she will be allowed back in the jails to provide counseling and religious services for inmates, and jail staff will be instructed to treat her with respect. The county will also pay $25,000 of legal fees incurred by Hanson.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on December 30, 2010 (boomark / email).