{
"sop_number": "409.04.28",
"old_code": "IVL01-0027",
"title": "Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program",
"division": "Executive Division (Georgia Correctional Industries - Food and Farm Services)",
"topic_area": "409 Policy-GCI Food Service",
"effective_date": "2024-12-11",
"summary": "This policy establishes the Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program (AEP) Packaged Meal plan to accommodate offenders' religious dietary requirements in GDC facilities. The program provides vegan, Kosher-certified, and Halal-certified meal options prepared in dedicated food service areas with separate equipment to prevent contamination. All requests must be submitted on an official form and approved by the facility designee, Regional Director, and Director of Chaplaincy Services in consultation with Legal Services and GCI Food Services.",
"key_topics": [
"Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program",
"religious dietary accommodations",
"vegan meals",
"Kosher certified food",
"Halal certified food",
"meal service",
"food preparation",
"offender requests",
"religious practices",
"food service operations",
"dietary requirements",
"meal plans",
"facility food service"
],
"cross_references": [],
"content": "|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|\n|---|---|---|\n|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|\n|**Policy Number:** 409.04.28|**Effective Date:** 12/11/2024|**Page Number:** 1 of 7|\n|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Executive Division (Georgia
Correctional Industries - Food
and Farm Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|\n\n\n\n**I.** **Introduction and Summary:**\n\nThe Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program Packaged Meal plan is currently provided by the\nGeorgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program. This\nprogram was developed to allow GDC to accommodate as many religions as\npossible. This policy is intended to provide guidelines pertaining to the purchase,\npreparation, and service of alternative meals at GDC feeding units. Exceptions may\nbe made for contracted food service operations.\n\n**II.** **Authority:**\n\nA. United States Constitution, First and Fourteenth Amendments.\n\n\nB. Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), 42\n\nU.S.C. Section 2000cc, et seq.; and\n\n\nC. ACA Standards: 5-ACI-5C-07; 5-ACI-4B-18; 5-ALDF-4A-10, and 4-ACRS-4A\n03.\n\n**III.** **Definitions:**\n\nAs used in this SOP, these terms are defined as follows.\n\nA. **Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program (AEP)** - Alternative meal option for offenders\n\nrequiring a request form to be completed to participate.\n\nB. **Non-Vegan** - Any food that contains animal products, by-products, or blood.\n\nExamples include meat, milk, and eggs.\n\nC. **Offender Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program Packaged Meal Participation Form** \nA form that is completed and signed by an offender to request participation in\nGDC\u2019s Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program. Refer to Attachment 1.\n\nD. **Vegan -** AEP Meal Plan that is free of animal products, by-products, or blood.\n\n\n|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|\n|---|---|---|\n|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|\n|**Policy Number:** 409.04.28|**Effective Date:** 12/11/2024|**Page Number:** 2 of 7|\n|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Executive Division (Georgia
Correctional Industries - Food
and Farm Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|\n\n\n\n**IV.** **Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:**\n\nA. Handling Requests for Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program (AEP):\n\n\n1. All offender requests relating to the AEP are considered based on the security\n\ninterests of the facility. The least restrictive means approach should be\napplied when an AEP request may result in a security issue or disruption to\nnormal operation. The least restrictive means approach accommodates or\nprovides alternatives instead of complete bans.\n\n2. Each facility shall have a designee to receive AEP requests and shall process\n\nrequests for the AEP immediately. An offender cannot participate in the\nprogram until their request has been processed and approved.\n\nB. GDC provides the following Meal Option for the AEP:\n\n\n1. Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program Packaged Meal Plan. This meal plan shall be\n\nprovided at all GDC Facilities. Participation in this meal plan shall be\nreviewed annually.\n\na. The AEP Packaged Meal is available to all offenders with an approved\n\nAttachment 1, Offender Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program Packaged Meal\nParticipation Form. This request must be submitted in writing to the\nfacility\u2019s designee describing the specific beliefs and practices which\nwould require the offender to be placed on an AEP Packaged Meal Plan.\nThe request must explain why and how the regular Vegan Meal Plan is\ninsufficient to meet the offender\u2019s needs. These requests shall be\nreviewed by the facility\u2019s designee within two (2) business days.\nOffenders cannot participate in the program until the process is\ncompleted. If approved locally, then the request shall be forwarded to the\nfacility\u2019s Regional Director.\n\n\n|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|\n|---|---|---|\n|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|\n|**Policy Number:** 409.04.28|**Effective Date:** 12/11/2024|**Page Number:** 3 of 7|\n|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Executive Division (Georgia
Correctional Industries - Food
and Farm Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|\n\n\n\nb. All AEP Packaged Meal Plan requests received by the facility\u2019s designee\n\nmust be forwarded to the facility\u2019s Regional Director and the Director of\nChaplaincy Services for approval. The Director of Chaplaincy Services\nwill consult with Legal Services, Facilities Division, and GCI Food\nServices on the feasibility and approval of the request.\n\nc. If an offender is not approved at any point in the above process, the\n\nsection responsible for denying approval shall communicate to the\nfacility\u2019s designee, who, in turn, will communicate with the offender and\nensure the offender is not placed on the program.\n\n\nC. AEP Packaged Meal Plan Preparation:\n\n\n1. All foods prepared and served as part of the GDC AEP Packaged Meal Plan\n\nprogram will be animal product free, animal by-product free, and Kosher\ncertified. Halal-certified foods will be utilized when available.\n\na. A separate food preparation area shall be utilized.\n\n\nb. New pots, pans, and utensils shall be utilized for this meal plan and care\n\nmust be taken not to contaminate food items or equipment with animal\nproducts and non-Kosher products.\n\n\nc. GCI Food Services Division will supply all food items utilized on this\n\nprogram. All food preparation and packaging of the meal items will occur\nin the Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program Production Kitchen. Once packaged,\nthese items will be stored properly until shipped to the facilities with\nparticipants.\n\nd. The AEP packaged meals will be served on a tray with all meal\n\ncomponents and shall be consumed in either the main dining hall, on\ndetail, or in isolation cells.\n\n\n|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|\n|---|---|---|\n|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|\n|**Policy Number:** 409.04.28|**Effective Date:** 12/11/2024|**Page Number:** 4 of 7|\n|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Executive Division (Georgia
Correctional Industries - Food
and Farm Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|\n\n\n\ne. Food products will be prepared in a way that does not contaminate the\n\nfood product by contact with non-Vegan foods or non-Kosher foods. All\nrecipe ingredients must meet Vegan and Kosher standards. Halal certified\nfood will be utilized when available.\n\nf. Trays utilized as part of AEP Packaged Meal Plan Program cannot be\n\nused for any other purpose and should be stored separately and designated\nas use for Alternative Entr\u00e9e Meal Plans only.\n\ng. Facility dishwashers cannot be used to wash utensils, trays, etc. utilized in\n\nthe AEP Packaged Meal Plan Program.\n\n\nh. GCI Food Services Division will make the final determination if special\n\nor new equipment is needed for the heating process.\n\ni. The following foods naturally meet the guidelines for the AEP Packaged\n\nMeal Plan Program: water, fruits, vegetables canned in their own juices,\nand fresh vegetables that have been thoroughly inspected for bugs.\n\n\n2. All AEP menus will be prepared and certified by GCI Food Services Division\n\nCentral Office Registered Dietitian. These Master Menus will be followed\nstatewide.\n\nD. AEP Package Meal Plan Service:\n\n\n1. All offenders will be required to show their identification cards at the point of\n\nservice to receive their AEP meals.\n\n2. Trays for offenders on lockdown will be identified with offender\u2019s name, cell\n\nlocation, and identification number. All parties involved in the preparation,\ntransportation and service of the AEP will take precautions to not\ncontaminate food items, trays, and utensils.\n\n\n|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|\n|---|---|---|\n|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|\n|**Policy Number:** 409.04.28|**Effective Date:** 12/11/2024|**Page Number:** 5 of 7|\n|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Executive Division (Georgia
Correctional Industries - Food
and Farm Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|\n\n\n\n3. Offenders on the AEP should be fed as they arrive to the designated area to\n\npick up their trays. These individuals should not be fed first, last, or with\nmedical diets unless strict facility procedures are enforced.\n\n\n4. All requests to be removed from an Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program should be\n\ncompleted in writing using Attachment 2, Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program\nPackaged Meal Removal Form. If an offender requests to sign up for the AEP\nProgram after discontinuing participation, they shall not be allowed to do so\nfor a minimum of sixty (60) days after initial discontinuation.\n\n\n5. All aspects of the Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program must be strictly followed to\n\nadhere to and maintain the integrity of the program.\n\nE. Coordination with Medical Diets:\n\n\n1. If an offender requesting to participate in the AEP is on or needs a medically\n\nprescribed diet, the medical diet should take precedence. However, these\ntypes of requests will need to be submitted in writing describing the\noffender\u2019s medical need for the diet and how the Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program\nPackaged Meal Plan will not meet his medical needs. (Example: Offender has\nliver disease and requires a 50-gram protein diet, Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program\nPackaged Meal Plan provides 95 grams of protein).\n\n2. These requests should be submitted to the facility\u2019s Chaplain or designee\n\nimmediately. These requests will need to be forwarded within two (2)\nbusiness days to the Food and Farm Services Central Office Registered\nDietitian for review. At that point, it will be determined if the Alternative\nEntr\u00e9e Program Packaged Meal Plan can or cannot accommodate the\noffender\u2019s medical needs.\n\n\n|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|\n|---|---|---|\n|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|\n|**Policy Number:** 409.04.28|**Effective Date:** 12/11/2024|**Page Number:** 6 of 7|\n|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Executive Division (Georgia
Correctional Industries - Food
and Farm Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|\n\n\n\nF. Special Meals on Religious Holidays:\n\n\n1. All Religious Holiday requests must be submitted in writing to the Chaplain\n\nor designee at each facility forty-five (45) calendar days prior to the\nrequested holiday date. The request must be submitted in writing with\nspecific beliefs and practices described to the Chaplain or designee, which\nwould require the offender to have special accommodations. The request\nmust also explain why and how the regular Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program\nPackaged Meal Plan is insufficient to meet the offender\u2019s needs. These\nrequests should be reviewed by the Chaplain or designee within two (2)\nbusiness days and then forwarded to the facility\u2019s Regional Director, Legal\nServices, and the Director of Chaplaincy Services. Each religious holiday\nrequest will be reviewed on a case-by-case bases.\n\nG. Removal from the Program for Non-compliancy:\n\n\n1. Any offender who misses seven (7) or more meals in a seven (7) day period\n\nmay be removed from the program.\n\n2. Any offender who misses fifteen (15) or more meals in a thirty (30) day\n\nperiod may be removed from the program.\n\n\n3. Any offender who is caught picking up a regular tray after being signed up\n\nfor the AEP may be removed from the program.\n\n\n4. Any offender who is caught purchasing non-Vegan items from the offender\n\nstore may be used as a basis to be removed from the program.\n\n**V.** **Attachments:**\n\nA. Attachment 1: Offender Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program Packaged Meal Participation\n\nForm\n\n\n|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|\n|---|---|---|\n|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|**Policy Name:** Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program|\n|**Policy Number:** 409.04.28|**Effective Date:** 12/11/2024|**Page Number:** 7 of 7|\n|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Executive Division (Georgia
Correctional Industries - Food
and Farm Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|\n\n\n\nB. Attachment 2: Offender Alternative Entr\u00e9e Program Packaged Meal Removal\n\nForm\n\n**VI.** **Record of Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:**\n\nUpon completion, Attachments 1 and 2, shall be kept in a local filing area in Food\nService for one (1) year in an active file and shall be kept five (5) years in an inactive\nfile, then destroyed; copies of Attachments 1 and 2 will placed in the offender\u2019s\ninstitutional file.",
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