RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS IN PRISON: THE STATES' POLICIES V. THE CIRCUIT COURTS _____________ A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology Sam Houston State University _____________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy _____________ by Brenda S. Riley August, 2019 RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS IN PRISON: THE STATES' POLICIES V. THE CIRCUIT COURTS by Brenda S. Riley ______________ APPROVED: Michael S. Vaughn, PhD Dissertation Director Dennis Longmire, PhD Committee Member Jurg Gerber, PhD Committee Member Phillip Lyons, PhD Dean, College of Criminal Justice DEDICATION To Jim and Barbara Riley, my parents, who have been my cheering section through my entire academic career. They both have worked so hard their entire lives so their children could have a better life than they did. It is from them that I have learned to never give up and to try to leave the world in better shape than I found it. I also dedicate this to my aunts: Rosemary, Ann, Joan, and Alice. They had to go to work – only the boys could go to college. Thanks for instilling us with your love of learning. Finally, to Aunt Bernie, my rock, my calm, my oasis in the storm…everyone should have an Aunt Bernie. iii ABSTRACT Riley, Brenda S, Religious accommodations in prison: The states' policies v. the circuit courts. Doctor of Philosophy(Criminal Justice and Criminology), August, 2019, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas. As a fundamental right of United States citizens, freedom of religion does not stop at the prison door. In the last 50 years, legislation and litigation involving management of religion in prisons has been quite active. This study reviews such activity, showing the history of prison-religion law development, along with the case law in the U.S. Supreme Court and lower courts since the inception of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. A review of relevant laws and cases, coupled with examination of existing policies from different states, correctional administrators and legislators may derive policy implications for future accommodations of offenders’ religious rights. KEY WORDS: Religious accommodations, Prison, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, Religious property, Religious Assembly, Religious Diet, Religious Grooming, Pat Searches, Strip Searches iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation would not have been possible without the encouragement of Doug Dretke, Executive Director, Correctional Management Institute of Texas (former Texas Department of Criminal Justice Correctional Institutions Division Director and my former supervisor), Janie Cockrell (former Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division Director and my former supervisor), Carl Reynolds (former TDCJ General Counsel, who first introduced me to the world of legal research), Jackie Larue Edwards (former Texas Department of Criminal Justice Administrative Review and Risk Management Division Director and my former supervisor), William Stephens, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Correctional Institutions Division Director, and my co- workers, Debra West, Cherie Miller, and Jemelle Spivey. I would also like to acknowledge the help, advice, and encouragement of Dr. Michael Vaughn, Dr. Jurg Gerber, Doris Powell-Pratt, Karen Eads, Dr. Janet Mullings, Dr. Larry Hoover, Dr. Gaylene Armstrong, Dr. Kelly Cheeseman, Dr. George Day, Dr. Meredith Rountree, Dr. Doug Julien, Dr. Craig Nakashian, Dr. Tom Jordan, Dr. Peter Racheotes, Dr. Del Doughty, Kelly Bennett, and Bette Shoptaw. The support and encouragement of my cohort and mentors (Maria Koeppel, Melissa Petkovsek, Jeanne Subjack, Nancy Gartner, Robin Jackson, Kim Chism, Cody Gaines, and Leah McCoy) also fostered a spirit of collegiality that anyone would be fortunate to have during their academic career. This dissertation absolutely would not have ever been finished without M&M. Most of all, I would like to thank Dr. Dennis Longmire, the patron saint of my cohort, who helped us when there was no hope and Dr. Rolando V. del Carmen, the epitome of the person I would like to be when I grow up. On a personal note, thanks to Aunt Bernie, Kevin, v Jeanette, Rane, Sean, Megan, Hollie, Roland, Haley, Paddy-Pat, Michael, Chase, Mark, and Guy for helping me keep going. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iii ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ v TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. vii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ x CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 II THE LAW AND RELIGION IN PRISONS .......................................................... 7 The Road to RLUIPA ............................................................................................. 7 Governing Law ..................................................................................................... 23 III RELIGION IN PRISON ....................................................................................... 27 Gender and Religion in Prison .............................................................................. 29 Property ................................................................................................................. 30 Assembly and Ceremonies .................................................................................... 33 Diet ........................................................................................................................ 38 Grooming .............................................................................................................. 41 Pat and Strip Searches ........................................................................................... 45 IV METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 50 Major Research Questions .................................................................................... 53 vii V SUMMARY OF STATE PRISON SYSTEMS’ POLICIES ................................ 55 Property ................................................................................................................. 55 Assembly............................................................................................................... 55 Diet ........................................................................................................................ 56 Grooming .............................................................................................................. 57 Pat and Strip Searches ........................................................................................... 58 VI U.S. COURTS OF APPEALS CASES ................................................................. 60 Property ................................................................................................................. 62 Assemblies and Ceremonies ................................................................................. 72 Diet ........................................................................................................................ 83 Grooming .............................................................................................................. 97 Pat and Strip Searches ......................................................................................... 106 General Exercise of Religious Freedom Cases ................................................... 107 Summary ............................................................................................................. 116 VII ANALYSIS ......................................................................................................... 123 Analysis............................................................................................................... 123 Does the Prison System Population Size Matter? ............................................... 124 VIII .................................................................................................................... CONCLUSION ................................................................................................... 126 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 130 APPENDIX A ................................................................................................................. 179 APPENDIX B ................................................................................................................. 338 VITA ............................................................................................................................... 421 viii LIST OF TABLES Page 1 Turner Prongs: Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78 (1987) (Rational basis) ............... 13 2 Examples of Religious Practices Requiring Property ..........................................