(CNN) The Federal Bureau of Prisons has agreed to make five recommended changes to their religious services program after the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General found “significant deficiencies” that include high-risk inmates like those convicted on terrorism charges were leading services.
“We found that a significant shortage in the number of chaplains and other chaplaincy services staff impairs the BOP’s ability to implement a safe and effective religious services program. In addition, we found that a lack of faith diversity among the BOP’s chaplaincy staff leaves some inmate faith groups significantly underrepresented,” according to the Inspector General’s 57-page report released this week.
The bureau currently holds nearly 130,000 inmates in facilities across the country and approximately 70% identified with a faith group during their intake process.