Guidelines 750-2: Management of Interfaith Sacred Space

Purpose

• To ensure the appropriate designation, maintenance, functionality, security management and use of interfaith sacred space in and on the grounds of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) institutions, in support of the ability of inmates to exercise their religious rights and meet their spiritual needs

Applications

Applies to all staff, contractors and CSC volunteers involved in the designation, maintenance, functionality, security management and use of interfaith sacred space in CSC institutions

Roles and Responsibilities

1. The Regional Chaplain will advise the Institutional Head or delegate, not below the Assistant Warden level, as well as the Chaplain or their employer regarding the designation, maintenance, functionality, management and use of interfaith sacred space (henceforth “sacred space”) in CSC institutions.


2. The Institutional Head or delegate, not below the Assistant Warden level, will:
   1. ensure sacred space is designated exclusively for religious and spiritual activities per Commissioner’s Directive (CD) 750 – Chaplaincy Services. In unforeseen circumstances where the space may be required for other purposes (e.g., emergency situations), the Institutional Head may request a temporary exception from the Head of Chaplaincy to use the sacred space
   2. ensure the proper management, maintenance, functionality and security of sacred space by:
      1. initial provision and ongoing maintenance of furnishings as well as storage so the sacred space is functional, accessible, hospitable and adaptable for the facilitation of religious and spiritual activities and the holistic spiritual care of inmates
      2. providing neutral coverings for permanent/attached religious and spiritual symbols
      3. ensuring sacred space is a safe space, free from harassment and discrimination
      4. ensuring the security of the sacred space, as appropriate, pursuant to CD 566 – Framework for Safe and Effective Correctional Environments, CD 568-8 – Authority for Use of Surveillance Equipment and CD 566-15 – Closed Circuit Television Systems
      5. approving entry into the institution of items and resources for religious and spiritual activities and holistic spiritual care of inmates
      6. ensuring the use of candles or incense for religious and spiritual activities in the sacred space complies with CD 259 – Exposure to Second Hand Smoke and the Fire Safety Manual
      7. providing for ablution (washing), and other required preparations, prior to participation in religious and spiritual activities
      8. ensuring inmates have access to washrooms when in the sacred space
      9. maintaining outdoor sacred space
   3. ensure searching of the sacred space and sacred items are carried out pursuant to CD 566‑9 – Searching of Cells/Rooms, Vehicles and Other Areas and CD 566-13 – Detector Dog Program. Staff will make every effort to avoid contact with sacred items during searches
   4. ensure that, when the safety and security of the institution limit inmate access to the designated sacred space, inmates can participate in religious and spiritual activities, per CD 750 – Chaplaincy Services, in another location deemed suitable in consideration of the safety and security of the institution, in consultation with the Chaplain(s).


3. The Chaplain will:
   1. maintain a hospitable atmosphere for all persons accessing rooms, offices and other areas included in the sacred space
   2. coordinate the use of the sacred space to respond to inmate requests for religious or spiritual activities and to provide holistic spiritual care to inmates
   3. communicate equipment, storage, functionality and maintenance needs for the sacred space to the Institutional Head, or delegate not below the Assistant Warden level
   4. communicate with inmate-identified faith community support persons, local faith communities and CSC volunteers regarding sacred space scheduling, resources and other needs
   5. ensure the sacred space is appropriately prepared for scheduled religious and spiritual activities. This can include storing removable religious symbols, covering attached religious symbols as appropriate, and facilitating entry into and exit out of the institution of religious items in accordance with CD 750 – Chaplaincy Services, Guidelines (GL) 750-1 – Inmate Religious Accommodations, CD 566-1 – Control of Entry to and Exit from Institutions and CD 566-8 – Searching of Staff and Visitors.

Procedures

Inmate Access to Sacred Space

4. The Chaplain will facilitate individual and group inmate access to sacred space, or a suitable alternative space, where appropriate, in consideration of the safety and security of the institution, for:
   1. observance of religiously required services, rites and rituals
   2. holy day observances
   3. visits from faith community support persons
   4. discretionary religious or spiritual observances and practices
   5. religious education and other activities that address the holistic spiritual care of inmates
   6. spiritual care and support
   7. other approved chaplaincy activities (i.e., personal development opportunities, restorative justice events, pro-social gatherings).

Faith Community Access to Sacred Space

5. To facilitate faith community access to sacred space that supports inmate requests for religious or spiritual activities and the holistic spiritual care of inmates, the Chaplain will:
   1. ensure faith community volunteers leading or participating in religious and spiritual activities in sacred space are approved and supervised as CSC volunteers in accordance with CD 024 – Management of Correctional Service of Canada Volunteers
   2. coordinate in-person, telephone or videoconference visits between the inmate(s) and their identified external faith community support persons, faith community volunteers or CSC volunteers
   3. ensure faith community and other organization requests for access to inmates through chaplaincy services support the identified religious and spiritual needs of inmates and that the sharing of inmate information is on a need-to-know basis in accordance with the Privacy Act and CD 701 – Information Sharing.

6. The Chaplain will ensure that group religious and spiritual activities for inmates are led by external faith community recognized leaders or representatives.


7. In the absence of an external faith community recognized leader or representative, the Chaplain may facilitate a gathering for inmates practicing a particular faith when the recognized leader or representative provides:
   1. instructions for activities that can be supervised by the Chaplain or other supervisor
   2. specific guidance for inmate facilitators, who on a rotational basis in the presence of the Chaplain or other supervisor, will present materials provided by a recognized representative from that faith community.

Religious Supplies and Resources for Use in Sacred Space

8. Religious supplies and resources entering and leaving the institution are subject to CD 566-1 – Control of Entry to and Exit from Institutions and CD 566-8 – Searching of Staff and Visitors.


9. The Chaplain, faith community support persons, local faith communities and CSC volunteers are responsible for providing religious supplies and resources for use in the activities they lead or facilitate. Supplies and resources used regularly may be stored in the sacred space area when faith community storage requirements can be satisfied without jeopardizing the safety and security of the institution.


10. The Chaplain, faith community support persons, local faith communities and CSC volunteers are responsible for removing their supplies and resources from the institution when the supplies and resources are no longer needed for the activities they lead or facilitate.

Supplies and Resources Donated by Faith Communities

11. Supplies and resources donated by faith communities for personal use by inmates to meet an inmate-identified religious or spiritual need will be approved for entrance into the institution pursuant to CD 566-1 – Control of Entry to and Exit from Institutions, CD 764 – Access to Expressive Material and GL 750‑1 – Inmate Religious Accommodations.

Display and Storage of Religious Resources

12. The Chaplain will manage the display and storage of donated religious and spiritual resources (i.e., sacred texts, educational materials, prayer and devotional aids). Displayed religious resources will:
    1. reflect the diversity and general practices of the faith traditions represented in the institution
    2. demonstrate hospitable use of available display areas. Extra resources are to be stored in closed and lockable cabinets.

Enquiries

13. Strategic Policy Division
    National Headquarters
    Email: Gen-NHQPolicy-Politi@csc-scc.gc.ca

Assistant Commissioner,
Correctional Operations and Programs

France Gratton

Annex A - Cross-References and Definitions

CROSS-REFERENCES

CD 001 – Mission, Values and Framework of the Correctional Services Canada
CD 024 – Management of Correctional Service of Canada Volunteers
CD 259 – Exposure to Second Hand Smoke
CD 559 – Visits
CD 566 – Framework for Safe and Effective Correctional Environments
CD 566-1 – Control of Entry to and Exit from Institutions
CD 566-8 – Searching of Staff and Visitors
CD 566-9 – Searching of Cells/Rooms, Vehicles and Other Areas
CD 566-13 – Detector Dog Program
CD 568-8 – Authority for Use of Surveillance Equipment
CD 701 – Information Sharing
CD 750 – Chaplaincy Services
GL 750-1 – Inmate Religious Accommodations
CD 764 – Access to Expressive Material

Fire Safety Manual

DEFINITIONS

CSC volunteer: an individual who gives time without remuneration to risk-assessed, approved and supervised CSC volunteer activities. Refer to paragraph 1 of CD 024 – Management of Correctional Service of Canada Volunteers for a complete definition. Individuals that do not meet the requirements for a CSC volunteer are considered official visitors and their access to the institution will be per CD 566‑1 – Control of Entry to and Exit from Institutions and CD 559 – Visits.

Faith community support person: a community person identified by the inmate who:

• is designated by the faith community as a clergy member, teacher, leader or official
• can confirm the inmate’s affiliation with the faith community, and
• has knowledge of the faith community’s religiously required practices for the inmate.

Furnishings: items necessary to support/facilitate the religious and spiritual activities for most religions and spiritual expressions. They include chairs, tables, lectern, shelving, prayer mats, meditation mats, musical and audio-visual equipment, or other furnishings identified in consultation with the Regional Chaplain, Chaplain and faith community representatives.

Holistic spiritual care: opportunities for inmates that present a spiritually-based, restorative interpretation of life in areas such as forgiveness, guilt, anger, hostility, pain, hurt, power, grace, self-worth, acceptance, death, trust, health, grief, and other significant components of human existence and experience.

Hospitable: a welcoming, respectful and equitable response to all persons and faith groups using a sacred space at CSC institutions, as a unique and important aspect of chaplaincy services in a correctional environment.

Interfaith sacred space (or sacred space): a functional, hospitable and adaptable space, within the institution or on the institutional grounds, separate from Indigenous program space and Indigenous sacred grounds, that is designated exclusively for the purpose of individual or communal worship, celebrations, rites, meditation, prayer, reflection, study or other communal and individual observances for inmates of all or no religious or spiritual affiliation.

Religious and spiritual activities: includes religious services, rites, rituals, education activities and meetings with faith community support persons, as well as any other activities identified by a faith community as their practice. These activities can also include individual religious or spiritual observances and practices based on freedom of conscience as upheld by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Religious supplies and resources: items that are necessary for the practice of religious or spiritual activities. They may include sacred texts, educational materials, prayer and devotional aids, music books, icons, images, candles, communion ware, symbols, bowls, incense, cauldrons, consumables such as sacramental wine, herbs, bread or wafers and any other items as identified by the faith community.

Sacred items: items that have religious or spiritual significance and are treated with reverence by a faith community or individual.

Videoconferencing: an appropriate means to support religious and spiritual practice of individuals or groups of inmates where the circumstances prevent in-person interaction.