403.02.01.001 (ISCC FM) Religious Activities V2 11-19

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This document was approved by Jay Christensen, Warden of ISCC
Purpose
The purpose of this field memorandum is to provide specific guidelines that are unique to this facility in order to fully implement standard operating procedure403.02.01.001.
General Statement
This field memorandum is subject to revision at the discretion of the warden of this facility, chief of the Operations Division (or designee), or director of the Idaho Department of
Correction. Any one of these persons may revise, suspend, or rescind any procedural steps, at any time, at hissole discretion.
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
The warden has designated the volunteer religious activities coordinator (VRC) to coordinate religious and volunteer activities within the facility. The religious activities oversight
committee (RAOC) approves and supervises the agenda for all meetings and activities and consists of the VRC, the deputy warden of operations, and a security staff designated by the warden,
who at this facility is the deputy warden of security. The deputy warden of operations is designated as the chair of the RAOC.
Religious Programs
Religious activities will be scheduled and provided on a regular basis to meet the religious needs of the offenders. These activities can be conducted by approved volunteers and/or approved
guests. Inmateled activities must be pre-approved by the deputy warden. Refer to SOP 606.02.01.001, Volunteer Services in Correctional Facilities, for volunteer classifications of Restricted,
Regular and Special, or Limited Service volunteers. Careful consideration shall be given in scheduling these activities to allow the needs of the various religious faiths to be accommodated,
within the proper security considerations.
SUPERVISION OF RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES
Periodic supervision is defined as being at specified intervals. Intermittent is defined as being at unspecified intervals. Direct supervision is defined as physically being in the same
room not separated by glass, wall, etc. Indirect supervision is conducted using video or audio means or by observation through a window, etc.
Supervision of InmateLed Activities
A staff member must provide periodic, indirect supervision of each inmateled activity at least once every 30 minutes and documented in the post log book. At least one time during the
activity, there must be periodic, direct supervision. The duration of the visit may be short or long, but must be a direct visit.
Supervision of Volunteer Led Activities
A staff member must provide periodic, indirect supervision of each volunteer led activity at least once every 30 minutes and documented in the post log book. At least one time during
the activity there must be periodic, direct supervision. The duration may be short or long but must be direct.
Staff will also provide intermittent, indirect supervision of volunteer led activities. This means that staff will observe the activity through video or audio sources at unspecified
intervals.
If a volunteer is a restricted-status volunteer, supervision by a regular volunteer or staff must be constant and direct at all times. Volunteers will be under either direct or indirect
supervision while visiting restrictive housing units.
The religious activity areas include the religious activities coordination center, educational classrooms and the outdoor worship areas. These areas are used by a variety of different
religious groups on a regular basis and for special events throughout the year. Each event will be listed on a memo that will contain the name of the event, the time and date of the
event, who is involved (both offenders and volunteers), and a list of any equipment to be brought in. This memo is signed and submitted by the VRC to the deputy warden of operations.
The deputy warden of operations reviews and approves all memos. A copy of the memo is placed in the Facility VRC folder located on the User drive. All memos must be submitted to the
deputy warden of operations at least two weeks prior to the event for review.
Procedures for such events willinclude:
At least one security staff person in addition to the VRC must be presentin the religious activities coordination center at the time of the event. Additional staff may be assigned as
needed.
Musical instruments (and other equipment) brought into the religious activities coordination center must be listed on the memo and inspected by security.
At the discretion and prior approval from the warden, guests may be allowed at the special events by submitting a Background Questionnaire and clearanceat least two weeks prior to the
special event. Guests are thereafter considered restricted volunteers as described in section 13 of SOP 403.02.01.001, Religious Activities.
Inmate Religious Mail
Inmates may order religious literature (Bible, books, booklets, and correspondence courses) from churches, prison ministries, or other faith-based organizations. These items are permitted
to be mailed to offenders. If any incoming religious material is questionable, it will be sent to the VRC for review on the same day it is received. The literature ordered by inmates
is considered personal property and subject to SOP 320.001.01.001 Property: State Issued and Inmates Personal Property, and SOP 402.02.01.001 Mail Handling in Correctional Facilities.
Religious Materials Donated to Religious Activities Coordination Center
All religious books or materials must be approved by the VRC as outlined in SOP 403.02.01.001, Religious Activities. These materials may be brought in by volunteers or sent in from various
organizations but must be approved before distribution to the inmate population.
SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS SPECIAL FUND ACCOUNTS
Money may be donated to religious account set up at Central Office for specific-use items. Items purchased with these funds must be group ceremonial items and specific for group use.
Approval will be provided by the RAOC via a request from inmates when needed.
Donation
The inmate submits a signed withdrawal form to the VRC. The religious group must be included on the withdrawal form. The VRC logs the donation and sends the withdrawal to Inmate Trust
Accounts at central office for processing. The inmatemust keep a copy of the withdrawal forms for his records.
Request to Purchase
The inmate submits a request to purchase specific item(s) for the group. The VRC confirms the request with the group and, if there is a consensus, will bring the request to the next
RAOC meeting. If approved, the VRC will facilitate the purchase of the item(s). If not approved, the process ends there. These requests do not go to the Department Religious Activity
Review Committee.
Sweat Lodge AND OUTDOOR WORSHIP AREA (OWA)
The outdoor worship area (OWA) is an area developed for use by all religions who require religious ceremonies and activities to be performed outside. The sweat lodge area is reserved
specifically for Native Americans and should not be entered by other groups. Those groups are to use the other side of the area provided. Inmates who wish to participate in religious

activities in the (OWA) or Sweat Lodge must sign up in the RAC beforehand and be on the approved list in order to gain access to the (OWA) or Sweat Lodge area.
The schedule of the OWA, which includes the sweat lodge, will be posted in the religious activities coordination center and on the fence of the area. The schedule will also list those
offenders who are authorized to be in the areas for maintenance, starting the fire, or other, authorized activities outside of religious worship.
Inmates who choose to practice the Native American religion and participate in the sweats may do so and will be allowed to use the sweat lodge during regularly scheduled times. The area
designated for the sweat lodge is recognized as a spiritually purified, consecrated area and will be respected as such by staff. Legitimate institutional security searches of the area
may be conducted at any time. As much as possible and if practical, the VRC and a Native American representative, inmate or staff, should be present to assist in observing ritualistic
rules for the area.
The hours of operation for the sweat lodge are entirely at the discretion of the warden or designee and the security of the institution. Ceremonies will only be held at the sweat lodge.

Firewood
Arrangements for the delivery of donated firewood will be made through the VRC. Should an unscheduled delivery arrive, it will not be turned away but delivered outside the security fence
to an area designated by the shift commander.
RELIGIOUS PROPERTY
Religious property is outlined in SOP 320.02.01.002. Inmates will order religious property from a pre-approved source and approved order form. Any item not found on the pre-approved
source must be per-approved by the VRC. A c-note will be made stating his decision. ISCC staff will distribute religious property.
References
SOP 320.02.01.001 Property: State Issued and InmatePersonal Property
SOP 320.02.01.002 Property: Religious
SOP 403.02.01.001 Religious Activities
SOP 402.02.01.001 Mail Handling in Correctional Facilities
SOP 606.02.01.001 Volunteer Services in Correctional Facilities
320.02.01.001 (ISCC FM) Property
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