Section 2425.20  Accommodation of Religious Beliefs

a)         Committed youth shall be provided reasonable opportunities to pursue their religious beliefs and practices subject to concerns regarding security, safety, rehabilitation, institutional order, space and resources.

b)         Participation in or attendance at religious activities shall be voluntary.

c)         Committed youth shall not pressure or coerce other persons to join or participate in the activities of a particular religion.

d)         Committed youth shall not engage in religious activities that may encourage violence against others or are likely to disrupt institutional safety or operations.

e)         Committed youth shall be requested to designate their religious affiliation during the orientation process.  Designation of religious affiliation does not constitute endorsement or recognition of that religion by the Department.

f)         A committed youth's attendance at a religious activity other than his or her designated faith shall be accommodated unless the youth center chaplain determines that the request is not operationally feasible due to factors such as security, safety, rehabilitation, institutional order, space and resources.

g)         Committed youth desiring to designate their religious affiliation after the orientation process or to change their designated religious affiliation shall submit the written request to the youth center chaplain.  The youth center chaplain may refuse to change the affiliation if it is determined that the change is being requested for other than religious reasons.  This determination may be based, among other matters, on the frequency of changes or a pattern of changing religious affiliation prior to a particular faith group's scheduled holiday or celebration.

(Source:  Amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 14183, effective November 25, 2019)