One of the security towers is photographed at dusk at the Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015. The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday challenged the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for its denial of religious exceptions for correctional officers of various faiths, including Sikhs and Muslims, who wear facial hair as an expression of their faith.
The department’s action, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District, alleges that although many officers had performed their jobs successfully for years while wearing facial hair, CDCR implemented a revised facial hair policy last year. If the DOJ’s case is successfully adjudicated and upheld, it will affect prison employees at 36 adult instutions statewide, including two in Vacaville: California State Prison, Solano, and the California Medical Facility, the latter a prison for inmates who require medical treatment for chronic illnesses, mental health problems, or injuries requiring specialized care.
Talbert said the DOJ’s complaint alleges that state prison officials have “failed to meaningfully consider the range of options proposed by the charging parties or those used by other correctional institutions to accommodate officers’ religious beliefs while meeting safety requirements.” Because the EEOC’s investigation remains ongoing, the department is seeking relief in its requested court order only until the EEOC finishes its full investigation or until CDCR can otherwise show the court it has met its religious accommodation obligations under Title VII, said Talbert.
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