Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Corrections
Chapter DOC 379 - Living conditions for youth in Type 1 secured correctional facilities
Section DOC 379.11 - Religion
Universal Citation: WI Admin Code § DOC 379.11
Current through November 25, 2024
(1) RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICE.
(a) The department may not discriminate
against a youth on the basis of the youth's religious beliefs. The
superintendent may modify a youth's religious practices based on health and
safety considerations, the security and order of the institution, the
rehabilitation goals of the youth and fiscal and operational
limitations.
(b) The department may
not require a youth to participate in religious activities but may maintain
information concerning a youth's religious activities for administrative
purposes.
(c) To the extent
reasonable, institutions shall make facilities and other resources available to
youth for religious practices permitted under sub. (2).
(2) YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN RELIGIOUS PRACTICES.
(a) A youth who wants to
participate in religious practices or request a change in religious
programming, diet, special foods or authorized property that involves others or
that affects the youth's appearance or institution routines shall submit a
written request to the superintendent for permission to participate in the
religious practice. The request shall include a statement that the youth
professes or adheres to a particular religion and shall specify the practices
and tenets of the religion in which the youth requests permission to
participate.
(b) Upon receipt of
the request the superintendent shall, with the assistance of a chaplain or
staff with appropriate religious training, determine if the request is
supported by tenets of the religion.
(c) In determining whether the request is
supported by tenets of the religion the superintendent may consider any of the
following:
1. Whether there is literature
stating religious principles that support the belief.
2. Whether the beliefs are recognized by a
group of persons who share common ethical, moral or intellectual
views.
(d) The
superintendent shall deny the request if the tenets of the religion or a
reasonable variation of those tenets do not support the request.
(e) If the superintendent determines that the
request is supported by tenets of the religion, the superintendent shall grant
permission to participate in practices that are consistent with orderly
confinement, security of the institution and fiscal, staff and space
limitations.
(f) The superintendent
shall establish written guidelines consistent with this section and institution
security needs to govern youth participation in religious practices. The
guidelines shall be made available to all youth.
(g) The superintendent shall require a youth
to identify a religious preference, if any, to participate in religious
activities. A youth may change this religious preference once every six
months.
(3) RELIGIOUS SERVICES AND PRAYERS.
(a) Each superintendent
shall, upon the recommendation of a chaplain or staff with appropriate
religious training, coordinate religious programming to the extent possible at
the times prescribed or encouraged by the youth's religion.
(b) The superintendent may, upon the
recommendation of a chaplain or staff with appropriate religious training,
permit representatives of approved religious groups from outside the
institution to visit youth, hold services and provide counseling and services
commonly provided by chaplains.
(4) RELIGIOUS PROPERTY. A superintendent may permit youth to possess approved religious property required by the youth's religion in accordance with sub. (2).
(5) DIETARY LAWS.
(a) To the extent possible, the institution
shall plan meals so that youth may maintain a nutritious diet while complying
with dietary restrictions prescribed by the youth's approved
religion.
(b) An institution may
accommodate youth requests for special foods for religious
observances.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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