Policy Text
Correctional Services P age 1 of 5 8/11 (REV 4/14)
MJ/RCCC
OPERATIONS ORDER
Religious Services
It is the purpose of the Main Jail and the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center (RCCC)
to make available to prisoners a range of religious services an d programs that, to the
extent practical, satisfies the beliefs of the various faith gr oups confined at the facilities.
I. Policy
The Main Jail and RCCC shall make every effort to allow the sincere free practice of
religion, limited only by legiti mate security and operational c onsiderations. Inmate
participation in the religious p rograms is subject to the revie w and approval of the
Correctional Ministries Direc tor, the Division Commander, and h is or her designee.
A. The Correctional Ministries Director is appointed by the She riff and is
directly accountable to the Chie f Deputy of Correctional Servic es and his
or her designee.
B. The Correctional Ministries Director supervises and directs volunteer
chaplains who have been properly i nterviewed, screened, selecte d, and
trained to provide spiritual guidance, conduct religious interv iews, and
services for the faith groups r epresented by the inmate populat ion.
C. The Correctional Ministries Director has the following respo nsibilities:
1. Plan, manage, direct, and super vise the religious program,
including approval and training of lay and clergy volunteers fr om
faiths represented by t he inmate population.
a. Lay Volunteers are defined as persons who are not ordained
clergy but are active member s of his/her congregation.
2. Develop and maintain communi cation with faith communities
represented in the inmate popul ation. This includes the
development and maintenance of an accurate database of religiou s
leaders from the various fait h groups and religions.
3. Receive and review all cler gy requests to visit an inmate an d verify
the status of the clergy member with the appropriate judicatory of
the respective faith group. Once verified, submit the request for
security clearance.
Correctional Services P age 2 of 5 8/11 (REV 4/14)
MJ/RCCC 4. Develop and manage pr ograms that meet the expressed needs of
the inmates. This includes recru itment of religious leaders,
scheduling group religious studies and programs, and reviewing all
inmate requests for special religious diets.
5. Manage Inmate Message Reques ts (KITES) and grievances
submitted to the Correctional Chap laincy for the various religi ous
requests.
6. The Correctional Ministries Dir ector must be available to mi nister to
all inmates without regard to denom ination, creed, religious be lief,
race, cause of confinement, or sexual identity.
7. The Correctional Ministries Dir ector shall not attempt to co nvert any
inmate from one religion, belie f, or opinion to another.
II. Volunteer Chaplains
A. Volunteer Chaplains work at th e direction of the Correctiona l Ministries
Director. Volunteer Chaplains per form a variety of duties to a ssist the
Correctional Ministries Directo r in meeting the religious reque st of the
inmate population.
B. Volunteer Chaplains are required to:
1. Complete all required interv iews, clearance procedures, appl ication
requirements and submit to the Co rrectional Ministries Director for
volunteer service clearance.
2. Attend all orientation and tr aining sessions directed by the
Correctional Ministries Directo r and/or Correct ional Command St aff.
3. Comply with all security pro tocols and rules of the facility , including
wearing proper identification a t all times within both faciliti es.
C. Volunteer Chaplains re sponsibilities include:
1. Assist the Correctional Minist ries Director in ministering t o the
expressed religious needs of i nmates. This includes one-on-one
spiritual counseling, conducting religious classes in secure ar eas
and responding to religious requ ests by inmates who have made
their request to the Chaplai n’s Office via KITE.
2. One-on-one spiritual counseling can be conducted in the secu red
areas of the facilities. Visits shall not exceed 20 minutes an d shall
have prior approval from the Custody Officer.
3. Observe all safety and health procedures required by Departm ent
policies.
Correctional Services P age 3 of 5 8/11 (REV 4/14)
MJ/RCCC 4. Upon arrival in a housing lo cation, Volunteer Chaplains shal l
immediately notify the Custody Officer of their presence and
purpose. They shall follow the direction of the Custody Office r.
5. Notify the Custody Officer of anything which is detrimental to the
health or safety of the inmate or correctional personnel.
6. Volunteer Chaplains must be av ailable to minister to all inm ates
without regard to denomination, cr eed, religious belief, race, cause
of confinement, or sexual identity.
7. Volunteer Chaplain s shall not attempt to convert any inmate from
one religion, belief, or opinion to another.
8. Volunteer Chaplains may prov ide inmates with information on
obtaining marriage application do cuments, but will not personal ly
assist in obtaining said docum ents, and they will not offer any
counseling in regard to the marriage ceremony.
III. Volunteer Rel igious Visitors
A. An