Legal Research

Prisoner Bypasses Florida for Vermont

By turquhart

Fast-acting folks have secured prisoner, and practicing Sikh, Satnam Singh?s right to retain an article of his faith: his unshorn hair, or ?kes,? along with his turban, or "dastaar." (See: "Common Misconceptions Regarding Sikhism.")

Satnam Singh was ?scheduled to enter a Florida prison next week, and the state penal code is unrelenting on the point that incoming male prisoners must receive short haircuts and close shaves, no matter [?] their religious beliefs.? (via Palm Beach Post)

?The Sikh Coalition, a US-based organisation initiated the move, and a petition [was] addressed to Florida Governor Jeb Bush, secretary department of corrections, James McDonough and deputy secretary of corrections, Laura Bedard, to stop federal authorities from forcibly cutting Satnam Singh's hair and removing his turban.? (via Sikh Sangat News)

Satnam?s issue has been resolved: On April 3, the Sikh Coalition received ?confirmation from Secretary?s office that Satnam will serve his sentence in Vermont and that his hair will not be cut and he will be allowed to wear his turban until he is transferred there.? (via Sikh Sangat News)

According to the New York City-based Sikh Coalition:

?The fight for religious freedom in Florida prisons is not over, however. The regulations that disallow long hair or religious headcoverings must ultimately be changed to accommodate prisoners of faith. The Coalition will continue to work with its partners in Florida to ensure all prisoners are able to keep their hair uncut and are able to cover their heads with religious garb.?

Posted by Toni Urquhart

Full post as published by FSU College of Law Library Blog on April 08, 2006 (boomark / email).