§ 610 — Freedom of worship

New York § 610

• Jurisdiction: New York
• Law COR: Correction
• Art. 22: Miscellaneous Provisions

Text

§ 610. Freedom of worship. 1. All persons who may have been or may\nhereafter be committed to or taken charge of by any of the institutions\nmentioned in this section, are hereby declared to be and entitled to the\nfree exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without\ndiscrimination or preference.\n 2. This section shall be deemed to apply to every incorporated or\nunincorporated society for the reformation of its incarcerated\nindividuals, as well as houses of refuge, penitentiaries, protectories,\nreformatories or other correctional institutions, continuing to receive\nfor its use, either public moneys, or a per capita sum from any\nmunicipality for the support of incarcerated individuals.\n 3. The rules and regulations established for the government of the\ninstitutions mentioned in this section shall recognize the right of the\nincarcerated individuals to the free exercise of their religious belief,\nand to worship God according to the dictates of their consciences,\nincluding baptism by immersion, in accordance with the provisions of the\nconstitution; and shall allow religious services on Sunday and for\nprivate ministration to the incarcerated individuals in such manner as\nmay best carry into effect the spirit and intent of this section and be\nconsistent with the proper discipline and management of the institution;\nand the incarcerated individuals of such institutions shall be allowed\nsuch religious services and spiritual advice and spiritual ministration\nfrom some recognized clergyman of the denomination or church which said\nincarcerated individuals may respectively prefer or to which they may\nhave belonged prior to their being confined in such institutions; but if\nany of such incarcerated individuals shall be minors under the age of\nsixteen years, then such services, advice and spiritual ministration\nshall be allowed in accordance with the methods and rites of the\nparticular denomination or church which the parents or guardians of such\nminors may select; such services to be held and such advice and\nministration to be given within the buildings or grounds, whenever\npossible, where the incarcerated individuals are required by law to be\nconfined, in such manner and at such hours as will be in harmony, as\naforesaid, with the discipline and the rules and regulations of the\ninstitution and secure to such incarcerated individuals free exercise of\ntheir religious beliefs in accordance with the provisions of this\nsection. In case of a violation of any of the provisions of this section\nany person feeling himself or herself aggrieved thereby may institute\nproceedings in the supreme court of the district where such institution\nis situated, which is hereby authorized and empowered to enforce the\nprovisions of this section.\n