Jewish former inmate gets $25,000 in settlement with Corrections

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A Jewish former Vermont prison inmate who said he was denied traditional food and religious observances while incarcerated has settled a lawsuit against the state Corrections Department for $25,000.

Fifty-three-year-old Gordon Bock of Northfield, who was jailed in St. Albans and Newport in late 2004 and 2005, says he was denied his religious liberty in violation of the First Amendment and Vermont law.

Bock, who was serving time after an alleged furlough violation on an underlying domestic assault conviction and other charges, says a Florida-based group that helps Jewish inmates was willing to provide food and other religious items to him at no charge.

The settlement follows a federal magistrate’s finding that Bock was likely to be able to show malice on the part of Corrections personnel in the matter.

The department has denied any wrongdoing.

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