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Religious Faith and Practice
Correctional systems provide opportunities for religious
practice by confined persons. These opportunities, however, must
not override the choice by some offenders of non-participation
in these practices. Protection of religious beliefs and of their
exercise is recognized in the U.S. and Canadian constitutions
and in other human rights documents.
Policy Statement:
Recognizing the existence of differing religious faiths,
correctional systems must be guided by principles not only of
voluntary participation, but of equity of opportunity for the
practice of religions represented within the offender
population. Limited only by reasons of security and order,
institutions should:
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A. Provide for direction and supervision regarding religious issue
and activities by professionally qualified and trained chaplaincy
staff;
B. Develop written policy and guidelines for decision making and
communications between chaplaincy staff and institutional
administrators regarding religious faith and practice within the
institution;
C. Provide appropriate facilities and support services needed for
individual and group religious activities;
D. Allow the observance of periodic special or ritual activities
requested by offenders and deemed essential by the respective
religious judicatories or national offices of that religious group;
E. Permit access to chaplains by all offenders and staff;
F. Assure that neither participation nor non-participation in
religious activities affects evaluation processes or qualifications
for other programs and opportunities by the offender;
G. Document the reasons for restriction of offenders' participation
in religious activities or programs, or for limitations of religious
practices deemed essential by the respective religious judicatories
or national offices of that religious group.
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