Religious Services
Religious Services Offered in San Mateo County Correctional Facilities
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office partners with Service League of San Mateo County to provide a range of in-custody and post-release programs for incarcerated persons, including religious services within the county’s correctional facilities; the Maguire Correctional Facility (MCF) and the Maple Street Correctional Center (MSCC).
Service League facilitates a variety of religious offerings to ensure compliance with the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). RLUIPA is a civil rights law that protects the religious freedom of incarcerated persons.
Through Service League and their network of volunteer providers, the Sheriff’s Office facilitates the following religious services, which are available to incarcerated persons on a voluntary basis:
- Meals that comply with religious diets
- Religious materials (including prayer rugs, head coverings, etc.)
- Religious readings (including literature, bibles, prayers, etc.)
- Meetings with religious providers
- Baptisms and weddings
- Grief counseling sessions
- And more
For more information about religious services, please visit https://serviceleague.org/.
Data on Religious Services Offered
In fiscal year 2024-2025, Service League responded to 3,594 requests for religious services, averaging 300 per month.
Religious Services Requests
Number of Requests Submitted to Service League
| Reporting Period | # of Religious Requests |
|---|---|
| Jul-24 | 232 |
| Aug-24 | 289 |
| Sep-24 | 262 |
| Oct-24 | 335 |
| Nov-24 | 294 |
| Dec-24 | 265 |
| Jan-25 | 368 |
| Feb-25 | 288 |
| Mar-25 | 368 |
| Apr-25 | 281 |
| May-25 | 305 |
| Jun-25 | 307 |
| Annual Total | 3,594 |
| Monthly Average | 300 |
*Note: data is typically updated on a quarterly basis*
Denominations Represented
Providing information about a preferred denomination is completely voluntary. As of March 2025, there are eight denominations represented among the incarcerated population, plus those who identify as spiritual (non-specific). A recent survey showed the following breakdown:
Breakdown of Denominations Represented in the Correctional Facilities
| Denomination | Number of Incarcerated Persons | Percent of Incarcerated Persons |
|---|---|---|
| Buddhist | 10 | 10% |
| Catholic | 21 | 21% |
| Christian | 29 | 29% |
| Christian Science | 5 | 5% |
| Hindu | 2 | 2% |
| Islam | 8 | 8% |
| Jehovah's Witness | 13 | 13% |
| Jewish | 2 | 2% |
| Other Spiritual Group | 10 | 10% |
| Total | 100 | 100% |
*Based on a survey conducted in March 2025.*
Number of Incarcerated Persons Attending Religious Services
Religious services are well attended. Providers served over 8,000 attendees during fiscal year 24-25.
| Month | MCF # of Male IPs | MSCC # of Male IPs | MSCC # of Female IPs | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul-24 | 178 | 263 | 169 | 610 |
| Aug-24 | 188 | 403 | 134 | 725 |
| Sep-24 | 175 | 280 | 219 | 674 |
| Oct-24 | 100 | 285 | 196 | 581 |
| Nov-24 | 148 | 384 | 194 | 726 |
| Dec-24 | 177 | 328 | 182 | 687 |
| Jan-25 | 139 | 269 | 233 | 641 |
| Feb-25 | 132 | 370 | 206 | 708 |
| Mar-25 | 218 | 510 | 186 | 914 |
| Apr-25 | 303 | 335 | 146 | 784 |
| May-25 | 243 | 224 | 104 | 571 |
| Jun-25 | 232 | 308 | 88 | 628 |
| Total | 2,233 | 3,959 | 2,057 | 8,249 |
| Average | 186 | 330 | 171 | 687 |
*Note: data is typically updated on a quarterly basis*
Learn More About Our Religious Services Providers
The Sheriff’s Office and Service League are grateful to have over 100 approved faith-based providers who volunteer their time and expertise. Volunteers represent a variety of denominations and are passionate about the service they provide to the incarcerated population.
Hear from one of the volunteers about their experiences serving within San Mateo County’s correctional facilities:
"Serving those who are incarcerated has been both a profound privilege and a solemn responsibility. Through one-on-one faith-based lessons, personal discussions, and grief counseling, I’ve witnessed the deep humanity of men and women inside the San Mateo County Correctional Centers—individuals longing for hope, healing, and connection. Every time I walk into these correctional centers, I am reminded that these are people created with dignity and potential, and it’s a privilege to share time with them.
One of the most difficult yet sacred roles I carry is notifying someone of the passing of a loved one. In those moments, the jail walls fade, and what remains is a grieving son, daughter, parent, or sibling who needs compassion and presence. Walking with them through that initial wave of grief, listening to their pain, and reminding them they are not alone is a responsibility I hold with great reverence.
At the same time, I’ve seen incredible resilience and transformation as people open their hearts. It is deeply moving to witness how even in confinement, lives can be touched by hope, faith—sometimes in small ways, sometimes in dramatic moments—when people realize they are not forgotten and that healing and restoration are possible.
I am also deeply grateful to the staff who make this work possible. The receptionists, program directors, escort officers, and of course the Service League coordinators—are consistently kind, supportive, and welcoming. Over time, they have become friends I look forward to seeing each week, and their partnership makes a hard environment feel lighter and more hopeful.
I am thankful to the Sheriff’s Office and Service League for providing the opportunity to serve in this way. It is an honor to come alongside the incarcerated community—bringing comfort in grief, encouragement in faith, and the assurance that no one is forgotten."
In Hope and Service,
Blake Hansen, Bishop and Volunteer Chaplain
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Interested in becoming a provider? Please contact Anna Zaretski with Service League via email at azaretski@serviceleague.org or by phone at 650-364-4664.
