SC 529

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) England, Frazier
Senate Concurrent Resolution 529
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE OF
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY PROTECTIONS FOR INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS UNDER THE RELIGIOUS
LAND USE AND INSTITUTIONALIZED PERSONS ACT OF 2000 (RLUIPA) ON THE OCCASION OF
ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY AND RECOGNIZING THE FAITH-BASED REHABILITATION
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE PRISON FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 50TH
ANNIVERSARY.
���� WHEREAS, the First Amendment
to the United States Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion, and
these protections do not end at the prison gate; and
���� WHEREAS, RLUIPA ensures that
individuals in prisons, jails, and other institutions receiving federal funds
are not subjected to unjustified burdens on their religious exercise; and
���� WHEREAS, the Religious Land
Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, now in its 25th year, affirms the
fundamental right of individuals who are incarcerated to freely exercise their
faith while in custody; and
���� WHEREAS, under RLUIPA,
governments may not impose a substantial burden on an incarcerated individual's
religious exercise unless they can demonstrate that it furthers a compelling
governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of doing so; and
���� WHEREAS, the Supreme Court
has consistently upheld RLUIPA's constitutionality and importance in cases including
Cutter v. Wilkinson (2005), Holt v. Hobbs (2015), Dunn v.
Smith (2021), and Ramirez v. Collier (2022), reaffirming that
religious liberty protections extend to incarcerated persons; and
���� WHEREAS, faith practice in
correctional settings fosters personal accountability, improved mental health,
and successful reentry into society, thereby promoting safer prisons and
reducing recidivism; and
���� WHEREAS, Prison Fellowship,
founded in 1976 by the late Charles Colson following his personal conversion
and strengthened faith during incarceration, has championed the religious
liberty of incarcerated individuals and actively supported the adoption and
defense of RLUIPA; and
���� WHEREAS, Prison Fellowship
is the nation's largest Christian nonprofit serving prisoners, former
prisoners, and their families, annually reaching more than 600,000 individuals
and supported by more than 200,000 volunteers nationwide; and
���� WHEREAS, evaluations of
Prison Fellowship's Academy program by the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice, Baylor University, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections have
shown significant reductions in recidivism:� over 60% for program participants,
demonstrating the power of faith-informed programming to transform lives; and
���� WHEREAS, Prison Fellowship
will mark its 50th anniversary in 2026, continuing its mission to seek justice,
love mercy, and restore hope for men and women behind bars, and to ensure
robust opportunities for religious practice within prisons; and
���� WHEREAS, ongoing challenges
such as correctional staffing shortages, pandemic restrictions, and over-reliance
on digital access to religious content pose risks to the practice of faith
behind bars:
���� NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby affirm our strong support for the
protections for incarcerated individuals guaranteed under the Religious Land
Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
���� BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That
we recognize the importance of safeguarding the religious exercise of all
incarcerated individuals, regardless of faith tradition, as essential to
rehabilitation, constitutional fidelity, and public safety.
���� BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That
we do hereby honor Prison Fellowship on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary
and commend its decades of service in advancing restoration, rehabilitation,
and second chances through faith-based programs.
���� BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That
we encourage correctional agencies within Mississippi to adopt policies and
practices consistent with both the letter and spirit of protections for
incarcerated individuals in RLUIPA, ensuring that faith-based and volunteer-led
programs remain accessible to those who seek them;
���� BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That
copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Mississippi
Commissioner of Corrections, to each member of the state's congressional
delegation, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.