Stop North Carolina Department of Corrections Grooming Policy

To:  Theodis Beck, Secretary - North Carolina Department of Corrections

RE: Proposed Grooming Policy

On March 6, 2007, three Regional Directors of the North Carolina Department of Corrections (NCDOC) presented to the North Carolina Advisory Committee on Religious Ministry in Prisons the recommendations of a grooming policy that would violate the human and religious rights of Rastafari inmates. The proposed policy is modeled on the Virginia Department of Prisons hair grooming policy.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) found that the action of housing federal prisoners who were Rastafarians or Muslims in Virginia state facilities with a grooming policy prohibiting long hair and beards did violate the prisoners' rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Court ordered the BOP to transfer such prisoners to other facilities. Gartrell v. Ashcroft, 191 F. Supp. 2d 23 (D.D.C. 2002). [2002 JB Aug]

Petition:

We, the undersigned petitioners, find that the NCDOC proposed grooming policy does not recognize Rastafari inmates' religious exemption and violates the 1st and 14th Amendment of the US Constitution and also the RLUIP Act of 2000. We find that it is a violation of both Rastafari human and religious rights, and call upon the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Corrections to reject the proposed grooming policy.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Stop North Carolina Department of Corrections Grooming Policy Petition to Theodis Beck, Secretary - North Carolina Department of Corrections was created by Rastafari National Council for Inity USA Prison Outreach Program and written by Ras Siphiwe Nathaniel Ka Baleka (rnci_usa-owner@yahoogroups.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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