BOP Program Statement 5360.10 § 10

is not limited to rosaries and prayer beads, oils, prayer rugs, phylacteries, medicine

pouches, and religious medallions. Such items, which become part of an inmate’s personal

property, are subject to normal considerations of safety and security.

Personal religious items may not be purchased with appropriated funds. Inmates first coming into

custody are allowed to keep personal religious items in accordance with the Program Statement

Inmate Personal Property. Inmates can purchase personal religious property from either

commissary or through an approved catalogue source using the BP-A0200, Special Purpose

Order Request – Inmate. No religious item can have a monetary value greater than $100. Inmate

personal property may not be stored in the Chapel.

b. An inmate ordinarily shall be allowed to wear or use personal religious items and

ceremonial garments during religious services, ceremonies, and meetings in the Chapel,

unless the Warden determines that the wearing or use of such items would threaten

institution security, safety, or good order. Upon request of the inmate, the Warden should

allow the wearing or use of religious items throughout the institution, unless inconsistent

with considerations of security, safety, or good order. The Warden may request the

Chaplain to research whether the item or ceremonial garment sought is religious in nature.

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This research may involve consultation with representatives of the inmate’s religion.

(1) Religious Headwear. Two types of headwear are identified - religious and ceremonial.

Religious headwear is worn throughout the institution and ceremonial headwear may only be

worn in the Chapel. If an inmate wants additional religious or ceremonial headwear not listed,

the inmate may submit a BP-A0822, New or Unfamiliar Religious Components Questionnaire.

Inmates who have a SENTRY religious preference listed below are authorized to wear the

following religious headwear throughout the institution including the SHU, when consistent with

security, as follows:

Religion Headwear Color

Jewish Yarmulke black or white

Moorish Kufi black or white crochet

Muslim Kufi black or white crochet

Nation of Islam Kufi black or white crochet

Rastafarian Crown multi-colored (red, yellow, green

threads running through a black cap)

Sikh Turban white

Native American Headband multi-colored

Headwear worn throughout the institution may not contain graphics or writing. Religious

headwear worn throughout the institution may not be altered. Crowns may not have a bill.

Headbands can be worn only in a circle, covering the forehead but not the crown of the head.

Inmates are authorized three items of religious headwear. Inmates of other faith groups may

request religious headwear by submitting a BP-A0822, New or Unfamiliar Religious

Components Questionnaire.

(2) Ceremonial Headwear. In addition, inmates who have a religious preference noted in

SENTRY religious preference may wear the following ceremonial headwear in the Chapel.

These are not worn to and from the Chapel or in any other area of the institution:

Religion Headwear Color

Moorish Temple Fez red

Odinist/Ásatrú Hlath (Hlad) brown with one or more embroidered runes

The authorized hlath must contain embroidered runes. Plain headbands without runes are not

authorized. Inmates are authorized one item of ceremonial headwear. Inmates of other faith

groups may request ceremonial headwear by submitting BP-A0822, New or Unfamiliar

Religious Components Questionnaire.

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(3) Religious Attire for Women. When consistent with security, scarves and head wraps,

including hijabs, are authorized for female inmates who have expressed a religious belief to wear

such items, including:

Religion Attire Color

Jewish Scarf black or off-white

Moorish Scarf black or off-white

Muslim Hijab black or off-white

Nation of Islam Scarf black or off-white

Rastafarian Scarf black or off-white

Orthodox Christian Scarf black or off-white

Native American Headband multi-colored

Inmates are authorized three scarves or head wraps. The above list is not all-inclusive. Inmates of

other religious beliefs may request scarves or head wraps through submitting BP-A0822, New or

Unfamiliar Religious Components Questionnaire.

Jumper dresses are generally approved for women who seek to wear loose-fitting clothing as an

aspect of their religious exercise, so long as the security of the institution is not compromised.

Institutions housing females should have a supply of jumper dresses available in the laundry.

(4) Ceremonial Clothing. Unless the Warden determines otherwise for specified reasons of

safety, security, or good order, the following articles of personal religious clothing can only be

worn for services in the Chapel, but not on the compound, housing units or visiting room:

Religion Clothing Color

Jewish Kittel a white prayer robe only worn by men

during some holiday services.

Muslim Kurta shirt long, loose, and full length above the ankle

worn only by men.

Native American Ribbon shirt a multi-colored shirt worn by men and

women during the Pow Wow.

Wicca Tabbared a hoodless poncho or cape, earth brown

color, worn by men and women during

services.

Ceremonial Clothing owned by an inmate will not be stored in the Chapel. Baggy pants,

including the shalwar, are not authorized. Robes, including the jalabiyya (full-length robe), are

not authorized. Inmates of other faith groups may request ceremonial clothing by submitting a

BP-A0822, New or Unfamiliar Religious Components Questionnaire.

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(5) Ritual Underclothing. The Temple garments or ritual underclothing are authorized for The

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints inmates. The tallis katan or tzitzis, a small four-cornered garment, is authorized for Jewish male inmates. Other ritual underclothing may be

requested by submitting a BP-A0822, New or Unfamiliar Religious Components Questionnaire.

Religious necklaces and medallions are worn under clothing except in Chapel areas and may not

be altered. Ordinarily, inmates retain only one religious medallion in their personal property.

Yoruba/Orisha/Santeria practitioners may retain up to seven plastic beaded necklaces.

(6) Transferable Religious Property. A list of generally authorized and transferable inmate

religious property is maintained on the Chaplaincy Services’ Sallyport page. Additional personal

religious property items may be approved locally by the Warden, but must be sent home when

transferring to another institution. Disposable headwear is made available in Receiving and

Discharge for inmates requiring headwear while in transit. Transferable Religious Property

should be documented using BP-A0383 Inmate Personal Property Record.

c. An inmate who wishes to have religious books, magazines or periodicals must comply

with the general rules of the institution regarding ordering, purchasing, retaining, and

accumulating personal property. Religious literature is permitted in accordance with the

procedures governing incoming publications. Chaplaincy staff will distribute to inmates

religious literature purchased by, or donated to, the Bureau of Prisons when consistent

with the secure and orderly running of the institution.

Inmates desiring to subscribe to religious periodicals or purchase religious books or literature

must follow procurement policy and procedures. Retention of religious materials is governed by

the provisions in the Program Statement Inmate Personal Property. Rejection of religious

publications is governed by the procedures specified in the Program Statement Incoming

Publications.

Chaplaincy Services is authorized to purchase media resources (i.e. books, audio/video

materials) with appropriated funds to be provided equitably among the various religions. All

media materials must be religious in nature and be consistent with security and the orderly

running of the institution. Donated religious media resources may be accepted in accordance

with the Program Statement Donations, Acceptance of and made available to inmates in an

orderly fashion.

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All media will be inspected and reviewed by Chaplaincy Services departmental staff prior to

being entered into the Chapel Library Database. Only after inspection review and entry into the

Chapel Library Database should materials be distributed to the inmate population. Media

materials determined to be inappropriate for distribution to the inmate population will be handled

and disposed of, when possible, in a manner that is sensitive to the faith tradition from which

they originated. Concerns and questions about potentially inappropriate media shall be reported

to the CSC for Central Office review.