OAR 291-143-0080: Religious Activities

(1) Inmates should have the opportunity for reasonable access to religious activities which may include but are not limited to the following: (a) Regular religious services and ceremonies; (b) Special ceremonies, holiday services, and sacraments; (c) Individual religious counseling; (d) Inmate religious group meetings; and (e) Religious moral instruction. (2) An inmate whose religious expression includes odor or smoke-producing substances (e.g., tobacco, sage, sweet grass, kinnik kinnik, and incense) may be authorized to burn small amounts of these substances as part of an approved religious activity in a manner consistent with facility security, safety, health and, order. (3) Inmates Assigned to Special Housing: An inmate assigned to special housing may be authorized to participate in an approved religious activity in a manner consistent with facility security, safety, health, and order. An inmate assigned to special housing shall not be permitted to participate in group religious activities with other inmates. (4) Each Department of Corrections facility will post a current schedule of religious activities available in the facility. The schedule will be posted in designated religious activities areas and other appropriate areas readily accessible to inmates. (5) Inmate Requests to Participate in Religious Activity: (a) Religious Activity Currently Available in the Facility: An inmate desiring to participate in a religious activity that is currently available in the facility where he/she is confined may obtain information on the scheduled activity, and how to participate in it, by submitting his/her request to the facility chaplain or designee using an Inmate Communication form (CD214) . (b) Religious Activity Not Currently Available in the Facility: An inmate desiring to participate in a religious activity not currently available in the facility where he/she is confined may request to do so by submitting a request for religious accommodation as outlined in OAR 291-143-0115. (6) Annual Religious Event: Inmates, at the discretion of the functional unit manager, may be allowed to invite one guest who is on the inmate’s visiting list to participate in an annual religious event. The number of guests may be increased at the functional unit manager’s discretion based on institution resources and event size.