1. A. Exercise of Religious Belief.

   1. (1) Within security and program limitations, the Commissioner of Correction, Commissioner of Pretrial and Detention Services, and the Director of Patuxent Institution shall ensure that each incarcerated individual has reasonable opportunity to exercise personal religious beliefs.
   2. (2) The Commissioner of Correction, Commissioner of Pretrial and Detention Services, and the Director of Patuxent Institution shall ensure that each religion receives equal access to religious services.
2. B. Incarcerated individual participation in religious programming is voluntary.
3. C. The Commissioner of Correction, Commissioner of Pretrial and Detention Services, and the Director of Patuxent Institution shall ensure that religious services are conducted by chaplains or approved religious volunteers, or both, and are available to the general incarcerated individual population.
4. D. Religious activities are subject to supervision by facility security staff.

5. E. Ceremonial Meal.

   1. (1) A holy day or seasonal observance may be held with a meal if the meal is part of the holy day or observance based on religious tradition or mandate.
   2. (2) Each Department-recognized religious faith group may have one ceremonial meal in a calendar year.
   3. (3) An incarcerated individual may attend only one ceremonial meal during the calendar year.
   4. (4) A ceremonial meal shall be served in the food service facility, except when the managing official, or a designee, approves another location.
   5. (5) Facility food services is the only source of food items for use with a ceremonial meal.

   6. (6) The facility chaplain shall coordinate with Food Services to ensure:

      1. (a) Appropriate ritual food items are available for the ceremonial meal; and
      2. (b) At least 60 days are afforded for preparation for the ceremonial meal.
   7. (7) Holy day or seasonal observances may be held for incarcerated individuals in special confinement housing if operational capabilities of the facility permit without jeopardizing facility safety and security.

Authority: Correctional Services Article, §§2-109(c), 3-205, 4-208, and 5-201, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: March 12, 2018 (45:5 Md. R. 286)

Regulations .01—.11 repealed and Regulations .01—.11 adopted effective February 16, 2026 (53:3 Md. R. 122)