The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday it has reached a settlement with the Michigan Department of Corrections to change the state's policy limiting worship and religious activities for prisoners, as well as the kosher diet fed to Jewish inmates.
Under the agreement, Michigan corrections officials agreed to eliminate its policy that required a minimum of five people for religious services or activities. It will also remove a prohibition on group religious practices for Hindus, Yorubas, Hebrew Israelites and Thelema practitioners, unless there's evidence of a specific related security risk.
The state also agreed to do away with its requirement that Jewish prisoners eat a kosher diet year-round in order to receive kosher food for Passover meals. MDOC Director Heidi E. Washington signed the settlement document Oct. 29.
Source: Feds prompt Michigan to revise religious practice restrictions on prisoners