SOP_NUMBER: 106.05
TITLE: New Offender Orientation for Religious Programs
REFERENCE_CODE: VA01-0005
DIVISION: Inmate Services Division
TOPIC_AREA: 106 Policy-Chaplaincy
EFFECTIVE_DATE: 2017-11-06
WORD_COUNT: 563
POWERDMS_URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/106455
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/106.05/

SUMMARY:
This policy requires GDC chaplains to provide orientation sessions to all new offenders within 30 days of arrival at intake and each facility assignment. The orientation informs offenders about available religious programs, worship services, procedures for participation, and how to request religious accommodations. Offenders may designate or change their religious preference, with changes limited to once every six months unless requesting additional accommodations through the formal Religious Accommodations process.

KEY_TOPICS: religious programs, chaplaincy services, new offender orientation, religious preferences, worship services, religious accommodations, clergy visits, devotional materials, religious designations, spiritual programs, inmate religion

ATTACHMENTS:
  1. Request to Designate_Change Religious Preference Form
     URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/106.05-att-1/

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FULL TEXT:
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|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**New Offender Orientation for Religious Programs|**Policy Name:**New Offender Orientation for Religious Programs|**Policy Name:**New Offender Orientation for Religious Programs|
|**Policy Number:** 106.05|**Effective Date:** 11/6/2017|**Page Number**: 1 of 2|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:**  <br>Inmate Services Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level II: Required Offender<br>Access|



**I.** **Introduction and Summary:**
The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) respects the religious freedoms of
all offenders and will provide religious programming as requested. Chaplain(s),
through formal orientation sessions, will inform new offenders of the availability of
religious programs at GDC facilities. Assigned Chaplain(s), in coordination with
and approval from facility leadership, will direct and accommodate all aspects of
religious programming **.**


**II.** **Authority:**
A. United States Constitution: First and Fourteenth Amendment;


B. American with Disabilities Act;


C. GDC SOPs: 106.11 Religious Accommodations and 106.04 Chaplaincy Services;

and

D. ACA Standards: 2-CO-5E-01, 2-CO-5E-02, and 4-4514.

**III.** **Definitions:**
None

**IV.** **Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:**

A. The Chaplain(s) will provide an orientation session explaining Chaplaincy

Services for all new offenders. This orientation will be offered to all new offenders
within thirty (30) days of their arrival at Diagnostics Intake and upon arrival at
each facility assigned and will include the following:


1. Ministries offered;

2. Times and locations of worship services and programs, to include both

individual and corporate observance;

3. Procedures for participating in Chaplaincy ministries, religious services, and

programs;

4. Procedures for obtaining religious and devotional materials;

5. Procedures for clergy visits;


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**New Offender Orientation for Religious Programs|**Policy Name:**New Offender Orientation for Religious Programs|**Policy Name:**New Offender Orientation for Religious Programs|
|**Policy Number:** 106.05|**Effective Date:** 11/6/2017|**Page Number**: 2 of 2|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:**  <br>Inmate Services Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level II: Required Offender<br>Access|



6. Procedures for Religious Accommodations, as outlined in SOP 106.11;

7. Encouragement of offender involvement in Chaplaincy ministries, religious

services and programs; and

8. Answer questions relative to Chaplaincy ministries, religious services,

programs and materials.

B. During Diagnostics Intake, and as allowed per section C below, an offender may

designate their religious preference by completing Attachment 1, Request to
Designate/Change Religious Preference Form. Noting a religious preference on
this form is for self-identification purposes only and does not bind the Department
to accommodate any religious belief or practice, other than respecting the
offender’s right to believe as they choose. However, the Department may limit
participation in religious gatherings, activities, and special religious
accommodations to those offenders who designated their religion on the form and
who demonstrate a sincerely held religious belief.

C. Offenders may request to change their religious preference once every six (6)

months. To request a change, offenders shall complete a Request to
Designate/Change Religious Preference Form, Attachment 1, in the presence of
the Facility Chaplain (the form may be forwarded to the offender’s Counselor
when the Chaplain is not available).

D. Offenders that would like to change their religious designation more than once in

a six (6) month period, must submit a Religious Accommodations Request
pursuant to SOP 106.11, Religious Accommodations.

E. Religious designations and religious accommodations shall be documented in

SCRIBE.

**V.** **Attachments:**
Attachment 1, Request to Designate/Change Religious Preference Form

**VI.** **Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:**

Upon completion, Attachment 1 shall be placed in the offender’s institutional file
and that file shall be maintained according to the records retention schedule.