Maryland Prison Policy On Religious Holidays Questioned

The Associated Press reported Monday that advocates for prisoners are questioning Maryland's policy that guarantees prisoners only the right to observe one holy day per year while in prison. Some institutions permit two, but even that poses problems for Jewish inmates. Prisoners in Maryland also can gather twice each week for religious purposes-- once for worship and once for study. Prison officials say that they have 29 recognized religions. The Maryland Division of Corrections says it is looking into the complaints about limits on holiday observance.