Satanism Behind Bars

The following interview was conducted (and received on 16 October XXXI a.s.) with Darrin Field, an inmate at the Indiana Department of Corrections: PCF, and a Satanist. Presently, Mr. Field, 26, is involved in a legal battle with the IDoC for not allowing Satanists the same allowances that other religions are afforded within the prison. As of date, they have refused Mr. Field and other incarcerated individuals access to books on Satanism, and prison administration has done everything in its scope of power to change Field's mind from pursuing his class action suit: strip-searches, beatings, shakedowns, confiscation of Satanic material, and other assorted harassments.

Prior to this interview, Mr. Field attempted to ask for assistance from the American Civil Liberties Union, but was turned away because of "case load." In less minced words, the ACLU is too intimidated to take on a case that would, inadvertently, condone Satanism. (Although, defending neo-Nazis hasn't been outside of the ACLU's sphere of consideration in the past.) Likewise, the ICLU denied Field aid, for similar reasons.

On the prison end, the officials have used doublespeak in the form of "compelling interest", "institutional security" and "gang-related" to belittle and trivialize Satanism and, unlike others before him who had cracked under pressure, Mr. Field is taking the physical assaults and threats, and plans not to give up the fight. For perspective (if altogether needed), if Mr. Field were a Jew, this wouldn't have been an issue, lest the prison officials wished to be crucified to the cross of political-incorrectness.

If readers wish to look to the current judicial system in this country for a precedent regarding this type of case, one need only look as far as Robert James Howard. Howard, a prisoner in 1994 at the Federal Correctional Institute at Eaglewood was allowed by federal order to perform Satanic rituals in his cell. This is case law: once precedence is set, the judicial system must consider similar cases with equal seriousness and consideration. Regarding the existence of Howard's won case, Field's case isn't exactly on thin ice. The ACLU knows this, too. There's just the matter of social politics to contemplate.

Mr. Field is currently serving a seven-year sentence for forgery, a Class C felony and his first offense. (Maximum sentence was given because Field refused to implicate an associate.) Seven years for a bad check. Even without time off for good behaviour, murderers and pedophiles are let out far sooner than that. So, in our own compelling interest, Not Like Most opens up the next so many pages as a forum for this individual.

NOT LIKE MOST: Tell us how the lawsuit is going as of date. Go into detail, please.

DARRIN FIELD: As of this writing, it has not been filed yet. The reason for this is because since administration has learned of our intent, they have thwarted my access to seek relief. Azazel, a Priest in the Church of Satan and my acting attorney, has sent us legal mail and we either don't get it or get it over a month late. Case in point: The investigator, David Wire intercepted a letter from Azazel to me. The postmark on the letter was August 29. I did not get this until October 2. Over a month later. According to IDoC policy, if they take my mail. for whatever reasons, I am to receive a confiscation slip within 72 hours of the item being taken or delayed. I didn't get a confiscation slip until October 2. (See first page of this interview for copy of this form.) This letter contained power of attorney forms. The reason for it being taken? They said they had "reasonable grounds to believe the correspondence was a danger to the security of the institution." In the comments section of the confiscation slip, it says: "Recognized as a security threat group (gang)." Then in a direct contradiction, it says "correspondence not threatening." If it wasn't "threatening," why was it held for over a month and copied? I have put in 11 requests to go to the law library but never get a pass to go. Imagine that. Other than that, we are collecting more evidence all the time.
They are in direct violation of every clause of the First Amendment concerning freedom of religion and exercise thereof. A memo was sent to one of our belief, saying we could not "proselytize" or speak about our religion. We are not allowed any of the privileges other beliefs here are allowed. These are just a few of the probable violations that are happening. We have a hard time even getting Satanic books in; also, books on magic are denied. Being a Satanist does not make one a "gang member" and there is no "compelling interest." All of this is going to come out in court, we have all of the irrefutable proof we need. So, in a nutshell, the case is rock solid and as of now, we are doing our best to get it into court. which is difficult to do with them interfering with our mail. It will happen, though, and when it does, they are HIT.

NLM: If the ACLU is obviously too cowardly to support you, who on the outside has offered help, and what individual's and/or group's assistance have you decided to accept?

DF: Azazel (also publisher of Diabolica) is the one helping us and his contribution in this cause has been invaluable. To a lesser degree, Adrian Clavex has written some letters on our behalf. Other than that, there is no other group or individual who has offered any assistance. The ICLU dicked us around for about nine months and finally, when Azazel contacted them, they told him they "would like to take the case but there are only so many hours in the day." In other words, yes, you have a case but we don't want to assist a Satanist directly. The ICLU's purpose is to protect civil liberty interests. I have provided them with substantial proof of gross violations but they don't want to represent a Satanist. This is obvious discrimination; even worse, it is discrimination by people who are supposed to be protecting people FROM discrimination. They admitting we have a case but not representing us because we are Satanists is not only in violation of their code of professional ethics but cowardly as well. I cannot say enough to express my gratitude to Azazel. I have never met him personally (yet) but I admire his intestinal fortitude and his help is greatly appreciated.

NLM: You mention in a previous interview that your Satanic materials, after having been routinely seized, have in turn been periodically sent to a "gang-profile" somewhere in-state. Can you go into detail on what exactly that is and all of the particular implications of such?

DF: What they [the prison officials] are saying now is that Satanic material is gang-related. They confiscate letters from the Church of Satan; therefore, what they are saying is that the CoS is a "gang." As we all know, the CoS is a legally recognized organization, accepted as such by all facets of government. Being a Satanist is NOT illegal. Being a Satanist does NOT make one a member of a gang, and the CoS is NOT a criminal organization, which is what they are implying, and that is slander. They have taken me and other Satanists here and put us on a "red alert - security threat gang profile." We were taken by the investigator, had our pictures taken and asked absurd questions such as, "How many times a day do you pray to the Devil", "How often do you drink blood", "How many people have you sacrificed?" Not only are we denied our religious freedom but we are punished for being Satanists.
Being put on this profile is a form of life sentence in that our names go Upstate into NCIC computers as security threat gang members. Therefore, if upon my release, I am ever pulled over and my name is run, "security threat gang member" will pop up on the officer's screen. Also, if I am transferred to another prison, they will be under the same impression. This profile will follow me forever or until a court removes it. So, by putting me on this gang profile, any parole officer, judge, police officer or employer will think I am a violent member of a street gang. The implications are obvious. It seems funny that members of TRUE gangs here, ones who display through signs, clothes, and tattoos their affiliation to the gang they belong to, are NOT taken over and put on a profile.

NLM: Since many readers could assume what incarcerated Xtians would need to adequately practice their religion in prison, are there any other religions that are given equal allowances, and if so, what specific dispensations are they given?

DF: All faiths here [excluding Satanism] are allowed chapel space, all religious materials, and a religious symbol necklace. The Islamic population has special diets and during Ramadan, they eat at different times. However, the treatment of faiths other than Xtian are far from equal. At every other prison I have been to (I have been to five on this incarceration) there was fairly equal treatment. So, it is not not IDoC in general, it is PCF and specifically Al Fernandez who are causing all the trouble. At all the other prisons, I was allowed my religious material with no bullshit. When he [Fernandez] caused some trouble with the Muslims, they do not even deal with him at all but go through another chaplain. All other religions are given much less consideration than the Xtians. For example, on the monthly chapel schedule, Xtians get 120 hours per month chapel time, Muslims - 16 hours a month, Native Americans - eight hours, Catholics - eight hours. Satanists? ZERO hours. When a guard shakes down a Muslim, he isn't even allowed to touch his Koran. When a guard shakes down a Satanist, we are told that "this shit is stupid," etc, etc, and the shakedowns become abusive, violent and destructive. Several times a year, prison ministry come here, literally inside the dorm, and try to convert everyone to Xtianity. Yet, Satanists cannot talk about their faith. The same prison ministry will form two lines, one on each side of the walk, so we are made to walk between them as they hand out bible tracts. We call it "walking the gauntlet." But a Satanist can't give membership info to another inmate. Here at PCF, equal treatment does not exist.

NLM: Have you tried to bring your story (or has it been brought by outside sources) to any other media (besides strictly Satanic publications), such as local and state newspapers, television, radio, or even the Internet? If so, what came of the exposure, if anything?

DF: I have had only one other interview other than this and I'm in the process of contacting larger media now. I have written Larry Flynt and a newspaper but nothing has come back yet. This is assuming it ever made it out. If any other persons or media reading this would like to interview me, my address is Indiana Department of Correction, PCF, Darrin Field #936686, 1946 West U.S. 40, Greencastle, IN 46135-9275. If anyone reading this has access to the Internet and can get info, do it and send it. In the meantime, I'm continuing my efforts to get this out.

NLM: Keeping in mind Lex Talionis, what do you believe is Satanically just and unjust about the current prison system in the United States, as an insider?

DF: The prison system is the largest business in the country. Sentences are not uniform at all. Two people with the same charge: One gets probation and the other, four years down time. The system is corrupt from top to bottom. There is nothing correctional or rehabilative about it. Anything you can get on the street you can get here. Once inside you see a complete role reversal. The inmates (a good portion, anyway) become "the cops" by snitching and the [real] cops are the criminals by bringing in dope, beatings, etc. So, by putting someone in prison, nothing about them changes. The change in actions and thinking have to come from the person. I have used my time wisely by studying and increasing my knowledge of Satanism and seeing how things REALLY are. The reason I am in here is nobody's fault but my own. I committed the Cardinal Sin of Satanism: stupidity. So I deserve punishment, and I got it. What pisses me off is that once here, my self betterment through Satanism was stopped. If that [Satanism] is the path I choose and it is what works for me, who is some piece of shit, holier-than-thou creep in a collar to stop my attainment because he doesn't agree with it? Satanism, being Realist, has taught me that no whimpering Christ is going to make my situation or life any better. The only thing that is going to better me is ME: through balls, determination and letting nothing stand in my way of what I will. Sorry I drifted from the question. I guess there IS one just thing [in here]. I love to see child molesters get turned out.

NLM: Is solitude really a punishment?

DF: Solitude? What solitude? I wish I could get some solitude! In IDoC, most prisons are wide open dorms. The noise level is unreal! I have not heard quiet in over four years. THAT is a punishment. If you mean loneliness, yeah, I get lonely sometimes. It's weird being surrounded by people and feeling lonely. It's not often, though, because I don't like very many people. But the ones I love, I do miss. By getting caged, I have found out who my REAL friends are and who weren't. I don't expect mail daily or anything, but it is nice to get a letter once in a while from someone who is interested in whether I am still breathing or not. It's funny that those letters come from people you don't expect. And your "friends" you expected to be down for you, you never hear from.

NLM: Any productive life plans for when you get out?

DF: Yes, I plan to finish college and then go to school for digital media and recording technology. I also am going to use this education to further Satanism. Anything I can do through media and music to further the truth and destroy the false doctrine of Xtianity. I am a musician and plan to play in and produce Satanic metal.

NLM: Additional comments?

DF: Yes. Some Satanists out there may think I am "crying" about being a "Satanic victim." I thought that, too, for a while. Then, I realized that somebody must take a stand against the persecution of Satanism. When they came out with the "gang" thing, that was it. So, I thought who better than me to push this? What are they going to do? Put me in prison? I will not accept any form of Xtian control any longer. That is the reason for this suit. Not only will it be a step towards acceptance of our belief as valid but, in the process, it will expose how the Xtians here are lying, persecuting, narrow-minded idiots who have gone against their teachings of their own religion, showing their hypocrisy and ignorance. Also, I believe our forefathers, the writers of our Constitution, who were de facto Satanists, would flip if they saw this gross violation of guaranteed rights. If I can make any change at all, it will be worth all the shit I am being put through to do it. I will not stop until my belief is given the same considerations as all other beliefs. That way, when the next Satanist comes in here and wants to study Satanic principles and put those to work to improve himself, he can. I would like to thank Not Like Most for giving us a voice.

Copyright ©1996 Purging Talon Publishing.