Prisoners

1. Ross v. Coughlin
   

   669 F. Supp 1235 (S.D.N.Y. 1987)

   • Can wear beard but should shave for ID photo.
   • Yarmulke, tallith & tallith katan allowed.
   • Kosher food, allowed.
2. Young v. Lane
   

   922 F. 2d 370 (7th Cir. 1991)
   Previous History:
   733 F. Supp 1208 (N.D.Ill.)
   1989 WL 197412 (N.D. Ill.)
   1989 WL 57880 (N.D. Ill.)

   • Prisoner may wear yarmulka
3. Ward v. Walsh
   

   1 F. 3rd 873 (9th Cir. 1992)

   • Kosher food remanded to District Court for more facts.
   • Candles: Not allowed because of security.
   • Transfer on Sabbath: Court will not force prison not to transfer because too much of a burden.
   • Rabbi: No obligation to get one.
4. Best v. Kelly
   

   879 F. Supp 305 (W.D.N.Y. 1995)

   • The prison chaplain said plaintiff was not Jewish; Court held could not wear a yarmulke.
5. Thomas v. Lord
   

   174 Misc.2d 461, 664 N.Y.S.2d 973 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1997), No. 1963-96. Dated: July 8, 1997. Opinion by J. Daniel D. Angiolillo.

   • "Prisoner’s request that court declare her a member of the Jewish faith and that prison authorities accept her as such denied; however, non-Jewish prisoner had a right to participate in all Jewish religious observances to the extent allowed by the teachings of the religion and subject to any legitimate or penologic restrictions that may be appropriate.
6. People ex rel. Sarkis
   

   175 Misc.2d 433, 668 N.Y.S.2d 435 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1997), Indictment No. 15676/89. Dated December 10, 1997, as corrected March 2, 1998. Opinion by J. Reinaldo E. Rivera.

   • Petition by Orthodox Jew acquitted of second degree murder on ground of insanity and committed to psychiatric hospital to be furloughed during Jewish holidays denied, as were his proposed alternatives to the accommodations being made by the hospital; New York case.
7. Umar v. Scott
   

   , 991 S.W.2d 512 (Tex. App. 1999), No. 2-98-203-CV. Dated May 13, 1999. Opinion by J. William Brigham.

   • Prison policy of not allowing inmates to grow beards, except for legitimate medical reasons, along with policy of not allowing closed custody inmates to attend congregational religious services or religious classes together, did not violate Muslim prisoner's free exercise rights and equal protection rights under the U.S. Constitution, the Texas Government Code, or the Texas Constitution; prison officials entitled to qualified and official immunity.

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