Religion in Confinement: Legal and Operational Implications for Jails
Webinar Date: December 10, 2025
Webinar Time: 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Title: Religion in Confinement: Legal and Operational Implications for Jails
Cost: $195.00
Instructor: Gerard Horgan
Description
Operating a correctional facility requires not only effective management but also strict adherence to constitutional protections, particularly inmates' rights to practice their religion. Failure to safeguard these rights exposes facilities and staff to significant legal liability. This training will equip participants to demonstrate how daily operations can respect religious freedoms, explain procedures for providing religious diets and special meals, and assess menu schedules and inmate food service cases to ensure compliance. Additionally, it will highlight the critical role of chaplains in supporting spiritual needs and facilitating accommodations. By mastering these areas, staff can reduce the risk of lawsuits, grievances, and reputational harm while fostering a facility culture that balances security with respect for constitutional obligations.
Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate how to manage facility operations while upholding inmates' constitutional rights to freely practice their religion.
- Explain procedures for accommodating religious dietary requirements and delivering special meals in compliance with faith practices.
- Assess menu schedules and review inmate food service cases to ensure fairness, consistency, and respect for religious needs.
- Describe the importance of chaplains in supporting inmates' spiritual well-being and facilitating religious accommodations.
Instructor Bio:
GERARD J. HORGAN -RETIRED SPECIAL SHERIFF / SUPERINTENDENT
Gerard Horgan served as the Superintendent of Jail Operations and Special Sheriff at the Norfolk Sheriff's Office from 2013 to 2018. In this role, he supervised all Uniformed, Programs, Medical, Mental Health, HR, Fiscal, Legal, Classification and other Administrative staff. Horgan oversaw the daily operation of the facility and serves as a liaison to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and the courts. Previously, he spent over 25 years at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department where he was Director of Human Resources, Deputy Superintendent, and Superintendent/Special Sheriff at both the Nashua Street Jail and the South Bay House of Correction. Currently, Horgan is a member of the Governor's Special Commission on Correctional Funding in Massachusetts and he has worked with the Massachusetts Sheriff's Association on the compliance efforts with the Criminal Justice Reform Act of 2018. He also provides consulting services to a number of Sheriff's offices on legal and operational issues.