Corrections_Today_Spring_2026_Vol.88_No.1

FAITH-BASED COMMITTEE

Religious Land Use and Institution alized Persons Act, RLUIPA and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, RFRA, have brought to the fore front the delicate balance between a person’s free exercise of religion and the need of a correctional in stitution to operate in a secure and orderly fashion. In 1987, the United States Supreme Court decided the Turner v. Safley case. In this case, two inmates in Missouri prisons wanted to write to each other and to get married. The requests were in opposition to prison regulations. The court decided that the inmates did have the right to get married, but their writing to each other was a legitimate correctional concern. As a result of this case, the Supreme Court established a balancing test to be applied to future cases involv ing inmates and their constitutional rights. The balancing test involves four questions. (1) Is there a valid connection between the regulation and the legitimate correctional inter est? (2) Are inmates allowed other ways of exercising their rights? (3) How much will allowing the inmates to exercise this right affect others in the facility? (4) Are there avail able alternatives that accommodate both interests? Islamic inmates were suing for the right to leave their worksite in the middle of the day every Friday for Jumah prayer. The balancing test was applied and the court ruled that the inmates’ rights were not being violated since they had other ample opportunities to practice their religion. What the court acknowledged with these cases is the natural and daily tension that exists between the accommodation of a person’s

religious rights and the legitimate correctional interest of an institu tion. Outside of the courts, these decisions are made by chaplains and other prison officials multiple times every day. On any given day in any correctional institution, the religious rights of inmates are accommodated without the attention of the courts or the public. Inmates are given the opportunity to worship and pray, observe religious holy days, partici pate in ceremonial meals and adhere to religious diets. I have myself and have wit nessed other chaplains offer pastoral comfort to grieving prison ers regardless of whether they were a person of strong faith or no faith at all. I and my fellow chaplains have dined with prisoners as they celebrated holy days with a ceremo nial meal. We have heard the call to prayer from Muslims and wit nessed the blowing of the Shofar by the Jews. We have marveled at the meaningful dances of the Native Americans and the reverence of Mass by Catholics. We have tiptoed past the quiet meditation of Bud dhists and rejoiced with Protestant Christians in songs of praise and have smiled at the reggae rhythms of Rastafarians. While we hold to our own religious faith, correc tional leaders are wise to support the efforts to protect the religious freedoms of others. Future of faith-based programming In this complex world, where dangerous drugs are coming into facilities through the mail and where volunteers are limited due

to staffing shortages, providers of faith-based programs are facing un precedented challenges in offering their valuable services. The advent of prison tablets presents both a challenge and an opportunity to faith providers and correctional leaders. Faith providers see these technological advances as an opportunity to reach more people but are often restricted by cost or technical expertise. I, and many others who at tended the first ACA Global Faith Conference at the 2025 Congress of Correction, were encouraged by the distinguished panel of Direc tors who vigorously and sincerely promoted the value of faith-based programs in their facilities. The Global Faith Conference during the ACA 2025 Congress of Correction focused on the Needs, Challenges, and Opportunities of providing valued and meaningful faith-based prison programs. Since the late 1600’s faith has played a major role in corrections, and Chaplains have weathered many changes throughout the centuries. It is only by working together, faith-providers, stakeholders and cor rectional leaders, that the element of faith will continue the long tradition of helping those in prison find true personal transformation. CT

Joe Pryor is the retired Chief Chaplain for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, currently serves as the President/ CEO for Crossroads Prison Ministries, and Vice-Chair of the ACA Religion and Faith-Based Initiatives Committee.

Spring 2026 | Corrections Today

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