Inmate Prayer Scenarios:

• Review the scenarios and provide your opinion.
• Explain the key issues.
• Provide a possible response/solution to each scenario.
• Explain reasons for the response/solution.
• What Case law applies or is responsible for that scenario.

Scenario 1:

You are working a housing unit. While making rounds after lunch, you observe eight (8) inmates in an out-of-the-way part of the common area. The inmates are in a line, side-by-side, with one inmate standing in front of the line. You observe the inmates utilizing prayer rugs, moving in the following order: stand, bend at the waist, kneel and touch their forehead to the ground, and then sit up. They repeat the steps numerous times, all while speaking quietly in unison in a language you do not understand. Do you have any correctional concerns? What do you do?

Scenario 2:

You are at your work site and after lunch, you observe one (1) inmate in a corner of the room, engaged in what appears to be prayer. The inmate is kneeling with a bowed head, arms forward with hands open palms up, and is not making any sounds. Do you have any correctional concerns? What do you do?

Scenario 3:

You are working a housing unit and while making your rounds after lunch, you observe eight (8) inmates in the middle of thecommon area, engaged in what appears to be prayer. They are standing in a circle holding hands with their heads bowed, while they all are talking loudly at the same time. Do you have any correctional concerns? What do you do?