The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Subchapter
003
:
CARE OF INMATES
(Cite as: 28 V.S.A. § 803)
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§ 803. Exercise of religious beliefs
(a) An inmate at any correctional facility shall have the right of free exercise of his
or her religious beliefs, and shall have the right to receive visitations from a clergyperson
or other representative of his or her faith in case of illness, provided that a request
for the visitation is submitted to the supervising officer of the facility. An inmate
shall not be ordered or compelled to participate in any religious activities.
(b) Such exercise of religious beliefs as is permitted by subsection (a) of this section
may be restricted only upon a determination by the Commissioner that the exercise
would interfere unreasonably with the maintenance of discipline and security at the
correctional facility.
(c) The supervising officer of any correctional facility shall have the authority to compensate
any clergyperson selected by him or her to conduct visitations and carry out other
services at the facility. (Added 1971, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 20.)