Press Release

Los Angeles County Jail inmates were given the opportunity to participate in Easter and Passover services offered in the County Jail. The Sheriff's Department acknowledges the importance of both Easter and Passover. "We strive to give every inmate the opportunity to celebrate religious holidays of their faith," stated Sheriff Lee Baca. "Even if incarcerated, everyone deserves the chance to observe and practice his or her religion."

Easter Services were held on March 31, 2002, at Men's Central Jail. Services were made possible through the hard work of many volunteers who took time out away from their usual holiday observance to serve the spiritual needs of their incarcerated brethren. The Passover celebrations were made possible through the efforts and devotion of the Sheriff's Department's Jail Chaplains and their staff. Rabbi Steve Conn conducted a traditional Passover Seder for inmates at the North County Correctional Facility on Monday, April 1, 2002. The Seder meal included gefilte fish, chicken, hard-boiled eggs, matzo ball soup, fruit, and grape juice.

The freedom to practice one's religion should not be taken away just because a person is incarcerated. "We want the inmates to maintain their religious spirituality, even while in our custody. Our hope is that by allowing the inmates to practice their religious faiths, the paths of their lives may change for the better," stated Sheriff Baca.

SHB-19A-02

April 4, 2002