1. A. An incarcerated individual seeking to participate in the RDP shall submit a completed Religious Diet Application Form to the facility chaplain, or a designee.

2. B. Upon receipt of a Religious Diet Application Form under §A of this regulation, the facility chaplain, or a designee, shall:

   1. (1) Meet with the incarcerated individual to:

      1. (a) Review with the incarcerated individual the requested RDP platform;
      2. (b) Review with the incarcerated individual the Religious Diet Agreement, specifically the violation and sanction section;
      3. (c) Inform the incarcerated individual that violation of RDP requirements may result in the incarcerated individual's involuntary suspension from the RDP independent of the incarcerated individual disciplinary process;
      4. (d) Inform the incarcerated individual that the incarcerated individual is required to reapply for participation in the RDP every 2 years;
      5. (e) Obtain information from the incarcerated individual concerning the incarcerated individual’s registered religious preference and the reasoning for the request to participate in the RDP; and
      6. (f) Discuss other applicable information used in connection with the RDP request;
   2. (2) Use information provided by the incarcerated individual in connection with the incarcerated individual’s records and other available documentation to determine if the incarcerated individual is a designated participant in a Department-recognized faith group that requires a diet that can only be satisfied by the RDP; and

   3. (3) Use forms approved by the Chief of Religious Services to record:

      1. (a) Information obtained from the incarcerated individual; and
      2. (b) RDP information provided to the incarcerated individual.

3. C. When processing an incarcerated individual's request to participate in the RDP, the facility chaplain, or a designee:

   1. (1) Shall complete a review of all forms and applicable information obtained in connection with the incarcerated individual's RDP application;
   2. (2) Shall, based on the available information concerning the application to participate in the RDP, determine if the incarcerated individual is eligible to participate in the RDP based on the incarcerated individual's recognized participation in a religious faith group listed under Regulation .03 of this chapter;
   3. (3) May not deny an incarcerated individual’s application to participate in the RDP because the incarcerated individual is assigned to special confinement housing or a medical unit;
   4. (4) May deny an incarcerated individual’s application to participate in the RDP because the incarcerated individual falsified information;
   5. (5) May require additional information from the incarcerated individual to complete or supplement the incarcerated individual’s RDP application;
   6. (6) Shall decide based on all information available and considered to approve or deny the incarcerated individual’s RDP application; and
   7. (7) Shall document the decision to approve or deny the incarcerated individual’s request to participate on the RDP application.

4. D. Upon completion of an incarcerated individual’s request to participate in the RDP, the facility chaplain or a designee shall:

   1. (1) If a request for RDP participation is denied:

      1. (a) Meet with the incarcerated individual and provide the reason for the denial;
      2. (b) Record the date of the meeting to discuss the denial on the form approved by the Chief of Religious Services; and
      3. (c) Ensure that the completed paperwork is forwarded to Case Management for inclusion in the incarcerated individual’s base file; or

   2. (2) If a request for RDP participation is approved:

      1. (a) Meet with the incarcerated individual to obtain the incarcerated individual’s signature on a Religious Diet Agreement Form;
      2. (b) Forward a copy of the incarcerated individual’s completed Religious Diet Agreement Form to the Correctional Food Services manager for the incarcerated individual’s facility; and
      3. (c) Forward the completed paperwork to Case Management for inclusion in the incarcerated individual’s base file.

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)