Michigan Department of Corrections, Religious Rights Violation, Michigan 2024

Grimy Times has learned that the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) has agreed to settle a federal investigation into its treatment of religious practices within its facilities. The probe, led by the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, found that MDOC’s policies and procedures regarding group worship and religious activities were discriminatory and in violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).

According to the investigation, MDOC’s policies included a five-person minimum for group worship and religious activities, which effectively prohibited certain religious groups from practicing their faith. The policy also prohibited group religious practice for Hindu, Yoruba, Hebrew Israelite, and Thelema practitioners, and restricted access to the kosher-for-Passover diet to those on the kosher diet year-round. These practices are now set to change under the agreement.

"The religious rights of all people, including those detained inside our nation’s jails and prisons, must be protected," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. "This settlement will protect the religious practices of incarcerated persons across Michigan. The Justice Department remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that the religious rights of prisoners are respected."

As part of the agreement, MDOC will remove the five-person minimum for religious services and activities, remove the prohibition on group religious practice for Hindu, Yoruba, Hebrew Israelite, and Thelema practitioners, and remove the requirement that incarcerated persons must be on the kosher diet year-round to receive the kosher-for-Passover meal. MDOC will also provide training to staff and chaplains involved in implementing the revised policy.

The Department of Justice will have access to documents and correctional facilities to assess compliance with the agreement. The settlement is a significant victory for the rights of incarcerated individuals in Michigan, and serves as a reminder that the Department of Justice will vigorously enforce the rights of all individuals, including those in custody.

The investigation and subsequent agreement were the result of a thorough review of MDOC’s policies and practices. The Department of Justice was represented by Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section.

Defendant: Michigan Department of Corrections

Crime: Religious Rights Violation

State: Michigan

Year: 2024

Outcome: Settlement

Background: The investigation was conducted under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

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