THIS BLOG WAS WRITTEN
IN FEBRUARY, 2015.
Betting
against DOC in court is becoming a no-brainer. The folks in Richmond keep
defending – and losing inmate suits. The cost is borne by the taxpayers.
So, an
inmate in Virginia’s maximum security facility, Red Onion, asks to participate
in the Muslim fasting period of Ramadan. Officers go into his cell and search,
looking for “physical items in his possession to prove his faith.” The inmate
has a Koran and a prayer rug, but nothing else. DOC denies the inmate's
participation in the fasting period. He filed suit.
Ruling
against the prison, the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals found that DOC
policy was unconstitutional.
“The First
Amendment demands a more reasoned approach, even within the difficult confines
of a prison environment.” The court found that indicators of an inmate’s
sincere religious beliefs go beyond physical possession of religious items. The
court then awarded the inmate $3.795 (his filing and copying costs to bring
this prose suit).
Like the
inmate medical care suit (inmates at the Fluvanna Women’s prison), this suit
should cause DOC to change policy at every institution. But it doesn’t. Inmates
continue to file grievances over bad medical care and denial of their rights to
practice their religion. The grievances are filed, suits go forward, and taxpayers
pay. No one in the administration is called to answer for it. Sounds crazy
doesn’t it?
Here’s a
word you don’t hear too often involving Virginia’s Department of Corrections:
Accountability. It’s time DOC is held to the same standard those of us doing
time are held to. DOC needs to be accountable.
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