PRISON Regulations by Jurisdiction

Alaska Prisons Alaska Department of Corrections http://www.correct.state.ak.us Alaska Department of Corrections Policy and Procedure Manual 8053.03 states that the facilities in their system "provide therapeutic diets for those prisoners whose health condition necessitates them; ensuring that prisoners genuinely desiring religious and/or vegetarian diets are accommodated to the extent possible within an institution..." Download Alaska Department of Corrections Policy 805.03.

January 2008 Update Alaska's policy states that "Requests for vegetarian diets must be approved by the Superintendent or designee on a case-by-case basis." They explain inmates should use this process: A request for a vegetarian diet must be forwarded to the Superintendent through the Institutional Probation Officer who will include a diet history of the requesting prisoner; The Superintendent will review and approve or disapprove the request with regard to the verified needs of the prisoner and resources within the institution; and If the diet is approved, the Food Service Supervisor will be notified in writing. We have contacted the office of the Superintendent to find out whether requests for vegetarian diets require adherence to a religion that specifically teaches vegetarianism.