Essex County Prison Helps Inmates Observe Ramadan Holiday

NEWARK, NJ — Inmates at the Essex County Correctional Facility (ECCF) in Newark began observing the Ramadan holiday this week, prison administrators said.

Deidra White, director of reentry and social services department, offered some background information about the accommodations the prison makes for its Muslim population.

She explained:

“Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year for Muslims. The ECCF’s Islamic population will begin their holiday of Ramadan on April 13 (at sunrise) and will last for 30 days concluding on May 12, 2021 (at sunset). During this time, the Islamic population will fast from sunset to sundown. Fasting during Ramadan means abstinence from all food or drink, including water and chewing gum, from dawn to sunset. As in the past, normal operations will resume, which will include participants’ receiving both their breakfast (prior to sunrise) and their dinner (after sunset). After sunset, participants will be provided the opportunity to pray and have dinner amongst each other. The participants are able to utilize the gyms (on each housing unit for morning and evening prayers. (Please note that the ECCF continues to adhere to CDC guidelines).”

White continued:

“ECCF food services works in conjunction with the social services department to receive daily updates on participants who wish to be added to and/or deleted from the list … This list is updated daily and distributed amongst and all involved departments (food services, medical, ECCF custody, religious services, inmate advocate and social services). I would like to add that both religious services and medical services remain uninterrupted during Ramadan. The coordinator of religious services, Dr. Carrie Washington, is involved and monitors the process of Ramadan. She also coordinates with community religious entities regarding food donations. During the fast, medical services are always made available to individuals who may experience side effects from fasting.”

The prison’s Islamic population will conclude the Ramadan holiday with Eid al-Fitr, also known as the Feast of Fast-Breaking or the Lesser Feast.

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