You may start to notice more Supreme Court news in media because the court will be back in session starting on the first Monday of October.
Check out these two news articles that previews the cases the court will hear in the upcoming term. Some of them involve First Amendment issues, and also relate to other aspects of our discussions.
Check out Adam Liptak with The New York Times and his preview of a case involving religious liberty. Here's the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/03/us/beards-in-prison-hold-next-religion-test-for-supreme-court.html?_r=0
And, check out this preview by The Legal Intelligencer: http://www.thelegalintelligencer.com/id=1202668833187/Preview-of-the-US-Supreme-Courts-October-Term-in-2014?slreturn=20140818144223
After you read these articles, return here and share any comments or reactions. You may comment on whether you think the prisoner will prevail or not (and why), or you may comment on one or two of the cases the court will be hearing in the upcoming term.
Remember to please leave your first name, last name initial and class (TTH, MW or Online).
118 comments:
Involving the case about the prisoner's beards, I don't think the rules should or will change. There are plenty of religious traditions that people can no longer follow when they are in prison. Are they going to make special circumstances for each of these traditions? No, probably not. Part of breaking the law and going to prison is losing some of your rights. Not to mention, there's a reason why beards are not allowed. Safety should remain the priority.
Jessica Fleet - ONLINE class
It seems that, due to the only incidental nature of the breach of free expression caused by the rule, the courts are likely to uphold Holt's conviction (U.S. v. O'Brien). Though I am not well versed on the rights of prisoners, it would follow that laws or regulations applied to the imprisoned must meet certain constitutional qualifications so long as those prisoners are citizens of the U.S.
The fact that this statute isn't applied uniformly across all states also suggests that, if the court finds that freedom of expression is not an issue in the case, the statute may continue to exist in contention with other state statutes. This "non-ruling" would, however, set a very narrow precedent which could result in similar cases concerning the religious freedom of prisoners in the future.
Jon R. (TTH)
Darion R. - Online
I think that the inmate will be (or at least should be) able to grow a beard. The fact that the most of the prisons in the country already allow it is a big reason I think he should be able to. Also, I believe that if an inmate really wanted to hide banned items and substances, they're going to find the ways to do that whether they have a beard or not. Also, from a strictly religious perspective, I think it's unconstitutional to not allow him to grow a beard for his religious beliefs.
Wow, well as I first read through this article I immediately was for allowing inmates to have beards for religious reasons. Freedom of religion in the First amendment. As I later went on to read about the suicide by razor thought to be kept and hidden in an inmates beard I was shocked! My solution to this problem would be to continue to allow the first amendment to prevail but have further security checks on inmates with beards. However, inmates that are not bound by religion to have a beard and pose a threat to society should be required to shave.
When it comes to prisoners growing beards for religious reasons, I think the Supreme Court should allow it. Not doing so would be a violation of their first amendment rights. However, it should be up to the individual prison to decide the length they'll allow the beard to grow. I don't think that'll happen though. I think the Supreme Court will air on the side of caution and disallow the beards for safety reasons. But as the article said, "prison is a dangerous place," so regardless of if prisoners have beards or not, they'll still be weapons made out of random objects and drugs will still get inside.
Tyler S. TTH
Although I understand the safety reasons for wanting to prohibit facial hair on inmates, I do, however, think it irrational. Consequences of breaking the law include giving up certain freedoms and rights, but if the basis of prohibiting facial hair is due to the protection of officers, prisoners and the inmate themselves, then I think it's clear that's not the main issue. If inmates can hide things in their beards, where are they getting this stuff in the first place? Perhaps greater safety measures and security checks should be implemented, prohibiting and limiting what is allowed on prison grounds. For identification reasons, I do believe that records should be taken of what the inmate looks like without a beard upon arrival, but if he wishes to grow a beard, at a restricted length, than that should be permissible. It's hard for me to guess how the court will answer because the Hobby Lobby case, one in which I know little of, was dealing with a corporation, which in my opinion differs greatly from one inmate in prison.
Chelsea S. T/TH
I'm a bit torn on the case with the prisoner Holt and his beard. I feel in a way that they are discriminating against him more for reasons regarding race than anything. While the article did say a man hid a razor in his beard and later committed suicide, it was an actual razor of the prison's that he used, so that's actually on them for not catching the fact that there was a missing razor. I can't remember specifically, but I think it was battery or thief that Holt is doing time for, which also doesn't exactly make him a threat (along with many prisoners). I feel like they should be able to grow their beard out as they wish, and that it's the prison facility in which they are at whose job it is to monitor the situation.
Heidi Kucera
MW 330-450
The case with prisoner's beards. I want to say that we should allow them to grow their beards out but I am completely on the vence about this. Because I understand why they want/need to grow out their beards but I also think they should not due to harmful circumstances that could happen. I believe in religious freedoms but I just don't know what I would do. We have to leave it up to the courts.
Rachel O'Neal
Online
In the case with the prisoner's beard, I think it is unconstitutional for the prison's to ban him growing a beard for his religion. He is only requesting half an inch and I think he brought up very reasonable solutions for the problems the opposing side was arguing. Although he is in prison, I think it is his right to grow a beard for religious reasons. If he wanted to hide contraband, there are better ways than in a beard. The only example they were able to give of a prisoner smuggling a razor in his beard was a false testimony. Besides that, so many prison facilities allow their inmates to grow beards anyway. Look at those facilities and the ways they monitor the beard growth for examples.
Janelle S. MW
If growing a beard is allowed in most prisons in the country then it should be allowed throughout the entire country. If its such a dangerous concern as we speak then more security checks and things should already be taking place of its as big a deal as they're making it seem.
Also I know some prisons do kind of like a "privillaged program" type deal where people who don't get involved in anything bad or anything of that sort (like do my time and get out) while in prison and get more privileges and more freedoms than those who cause drama while in jail, they can make it to where prisoners not involved in Inge like that get the privilege of growing a beard, along with other privileges.
I still think for religious purposes, he shouldn't be told he can't grow a beard regardless of the reason and that the length he's asking for isn't much and hard to hide anything in, but if they chat come up with anything, that's something they can try.
Jeremy Peña MW 3:30-4:50
I can see both sides of the case regarding beards in prisons. I feel that the safety of everyone involved should be taken into consideration first and foremost, but at the same time, the length of beards allowed in prisons varies across the country, and doesn't seem to be a problem in those that allow longer lengths. I don't think the extra quarter-inch in length that is being asked for is enough of a difference to cause such a case, all while I feel like the defense has some pretty good "suggestions" to counter-act the safety concerns from the prison. Part of me feels the Court will stand by their concerns of safety, but the other part feels that the prisoner has the rights to practice his religion with a beard length of his choice.
I can see both sides of the case regarding beards in prisons. I feel that the safety of everyone involved should be taken into consideration first and foremost, but at the same time, the length of beards allowed in prisons varies across the country, and doesn't seem to be a problem in those that allow longer lengths. I don't think the extra quarter-inch in length that is being asked for is enough of a difference to cause such a case, all while I feel like the defense has some pretty good "suggestions" to counter-act the safety concerns from the prison. Part of me feels the Court will stand by their concerns of safety, but the other part feels that the prisoner has the rights to practice his religion with a beard length of his choice.
Kaylee Rocha MW 3:30
I think that prisoners should be able to grow beards as a reasonable person should be able to see that a 1/2 inch beard is not big enough to hide anything worthy of concern.
But as Jessica stated, there are lots of religious traditions that prisoners are no longer able to partake in once incarcerated. I'm not positive but i believe once convicted and imprisoned you forfeit most personal freedoms granted by the constitution.
Based on this, I expect the court will uphold the ruling, but not on the basis of threat of hiding things in the beard. It will be supported through examples of inmates with other religious traditions which they are unable to perform in prison.
Ben Slade MW 3:30 - 4:50
Casandra M. (Online)
In the case of Holt v. Hobbs, I'm a little torn. I do see why correctional officers are concerned about prisoners hiding contraband in their beards, however, like New York Time's article states, contraband can be hidden in clothing and body cavities as well.
If 40 other states allow a certain length of beard for religious purposes, then all states should look to the measures they have taken to assure the prisons remain secure and follow those examples.
I don't see how the Supreme Court can rule in favor of Hobby Lobby and rule against Holt v. Hobbs.
Concerning inmates growing their beards, I understand officers concerns, but Mr. Holt isn't asking for full on beard, only half an inch. There is no evidence of prisoners actually hiding anything in them so whats the harm? On the other hand, inmates are lawbreakers so they shouldn't get these special rights when they're are supposed to be punished. In the end, I see Holt winning simply because he is growing his beard for religious reasons.
Hunter C. TTH
From the article about the prisoner's beard, I think that the prison should be allowed to regulate their prisoners to some extent. If they have a good enough reason to restrict them from growing their beards then they shouldn't be allowed to grow it as long as it doesn't harm or violate them in any way. It's usually the prisoners fault for ending up in prison anyway and they should have some regulation since they are there because they broke the law.
Kristie Nakamura
Online
I don't think Mr. Holt is going to win. I personally believe they should be allowed to have their beards though. I don't even want to get into a conversation about the Hobby Lobby ruling because that still upsets me. Basically though, if a corporation can force it's religion on it's hard working employees, I don't see how prisoners will be able to get religious rights.
Stefanie H - Online
The prisoner should be allowed to grow a beard. Regardless of religious affiliation, beards are not dangerous when kept at a manageable length. Prison is already an oppressive institution that shouldn't be made more so by denying inmates a right to have a small beard. I do not really understand why the prison is fighting this so hard, to me it seems like an issue of control. I take great interest in the social structures of prison, and it is often worse than we imagine. Yes they are prisoners and they have broken the rules, their actions are being paid for. I think though that oftentimes we forget that fate determines life outcomes.we make an outside vs insider opinion about people on the inside instead of trying to understand the circumstances that led to convictions. Many of the crimes committed are dependent upon the situation. I will get off my soapbox (my dad would call me a bleeding heart liberal at this point) and simply say, "Let the man have the beard."
Seleste Mills
MW 3:30
After reading the article, I am conflicted about the growing of beards in prison. I think that by not allowing them to, it is a violation of their rights in the first amendment, as well as religious freedoms, but I am also unaware of rights as prisoners. I think that in order to keep guards safe, it makes sense not to allow prisoners to grow lenghty beards. The fact that it is allowed in most places already may have some affect on how the case is handled, but I do not think that the final ruling will ban beard growing.
Sarah S. T/TH 2:00-3:20
Growing a beard at any point should have nothing to do with court. I mean, I understand that they are trying to take safety matters inside the prison, but since when has that stopped inmates from finding other sources? No matter how bad the prison life is getting, the Government should not limit these men from having a beard if it is part of their religion. By not allowing them, it goes against their rights.
Vianei N. Garcia TTH
I think this whole beard thing is ridiculous. How is it that a corporation like Hobby Lobby is allowed to refuse to provide people with contraception on religious grounds while a man who wants to grow a beard for religious purposes isn't allowed to do so? (Sometimes I feel like corporations have more rights than people do in this country and it kind of sickens me). I understand that there are "security concerns" in a prison and many people feel like prisoners shouldn't have the same rights as normal people. But I feel like having a beard isn't any more of a security concern than wearing clothes (people could just as easily hide contraband in their clothing). And the example they used about the guy who committed suicide because he allegedly hid a razor in his beard was a very weak argument. First of all how can they even prove that he hid that razor in his beard? Did he put it back in his beard after he killed himself? And secondly it was a razor FROM the prison that he did it with. I think they should just allow prisoners to grow their beards if they so desire especially if it is for religious purposes if not I feel like this is a violation of their rights.
Kathryn Bordini Online
I actually don't think that the court will allow inmates to grow beards. I think that it's a First Amendment right, and they should allow it. But I think they will claim that it threatens the security of the other inmates and could potentially allow harmful substances into the prison. I hope I'm wrong, because religious freedom is so important, but we'll have to see what the court decides.
Sara B TTH
As a man with a half-inch beard, I think I can say pretty confidently that there is no way in hell I could conceal a SIM card, a razor blade, a homemade dart, or any type of drug in my beard. And I'm pretty sure that the Supreme Court will have to acknowledge that. They set a precedent of respecting religious liberty in the Hobby Lobby case, and I think they'll remain consistent with this ruling. They'll side with the prisoner to appease the people they upset in the Hobby Lobby ruling.
I'm a little surprised that a case about growing beards in prison has reached the Supreme Court, that's just my opinion! It's hard to say where the justices will stand with their decision, but I believe that they will take the consideration of safety as the main priority and side with Arkansas officials. I don't think there is a compelling reason for them to disregard the concern of hiding contraband and protecting correctional officers.
Presley Fowler, TTH
Lisa G. TThur-
After reading these articles, I think the inmate who is requesting to grow a beard should be allowed to do so. Despite the argument about how inmates can use them to hide contraband in, I think security guards should just check people with beards more closely so things like committing suicide with razor blades don't happen again. I don't consider growing a beard to be that big of a deal when in prison and definitely not so big where the issue should go to the Supreme Court. People may argue that inmates can hide things in their beards but then there is also the argument that the inmates will eventually have to come in contact with a razor at some point while there to shave if they're not allowed.
The case about the prisoner's beards, I thought was rather interesting. And at first, I was thinking that it wouldn't be fair to discriminate against someone's religious or cultural preferences. But then as I continued to read on and saw how some inmates would hide contraband, I could see how some would want to shave a prisoner's beard. It's a tough decision to make and I don't know if I could make that decision.
- Vicky S.
T/Th
With the case about the prisoner's beard, at first, I was thinking it wasn't fair to shave their beards due to religious or cultural preferences. But then as I conutined to read on, and saw that some inmates could use their beards to hide contraband, then I could see how that would be a problem. It's a tough decision to make and I don't know if I could be the one to make it.
- Vicky S.
T/Th
Personally, I think that the inmate should be allowed to grow his beard-- to a reasonable length. Not letting him grow his beard would violate his right to religious freedom. As mentioned, there are so many places a razor or any dangerous item could be hidden besides a beard (like clothing) and there are no rules against those. Although I think he should be able to grow it out, that doesn't mean the Supreme Court will rule accordingly. I feel that they should look at other state's prison regulations for beards and the First Amendment and use those as an example to decide the ruling.
Shelby Stamper
M/W 3:30
I believe that if the inmate arrived with a beard, it should be inspected by having a comb drawn through it and possibly even a heavy duty magnet. I can understand many of the concerns, but having had a beard for most of the last 10 years, I doubt that anything could really be hidden in a 1/2" beard. If the beard is clean and maintained, then there shouldn't be a problem, but if a problem does occur, there should be consequences on a reasonable level.
Chris H.
TH 2-3:20
I believe they should his religious belief in keeping the beard at half an inch but must kept groomed accordingly. This would have to mean for stricter searching in facial hair. If this prisoner later steps his boundaries, or any other, and tries to sneak contraband in then repercussions should be addressed. Comparing this trial to the prisoner who committed suicide is hard because if someone wants to kill himself they will hide anything anywhere, rather they have a beard or not. But if facial hair is checked regularly then it would not be a problem. Questions is if they want to add an extra step for ones who broke the law.
Sierra King
TH 2-3:20
I’m torn on the beard case. I do feel like, regardless of religious views, it could be a safety hazard. I’ve watched enough of Prison Break to guess that much. But the lengths of beards vary in prisons across the country, and it doesn’t seem to be an issue. I think the best way to solve this problem would be to allow him to have his beard (freedom of religion) and have the prison guards perform more security checks (to provide additional safety).
Amaris W MW
My first reaction to the beard case decision is that it seems a little ridiculous for the court to be so consumed about a quarter-inch beard. However, after taking in some factors into my opinion, I realized that yes, the first amendment does protect freedom of speech and religion, but as prisoners, they no longer have the right to certain freedoms. Is this right? Hard to tell for me. I am leaning towards the fact that it is just a quarter-inch beard and that shouldn't be such a problem, but it's ultimately the decision of the people in the courts.
Sarah S.
MW 3:30
I think the prisoner is going to prevail in this case. Religious freedom is a big deal in our country. I understand that prisons are dangerous, but other state prisons allow longer beards. If we were talking about a different religious practice, like a jewish one, the law might be more lenient, since we live in a post-holocaust era.
Justin Stephens (Online)
I think prisons should allow inmates to grow a beard. Obviously, each prison has different rules when it comes to facial hair and the length of facial hair. However, one should be able to grow a beard just as they can grow the hair on their head. Reasons for facial hair differ among men and I don't think because one chooses to grow one for religious reasons should differ from one who grows one for personal preference.
Maggie Ximenes (Online)
Amber L. TTh
As a First Amendment right, I think it is unconstitutional to not allow prisoners to grow beards for religious reasons. I totally understand the reasons for not wanting to have to deal with beards in prisons, and that they can be unsafe because of hidden contraband, but as the article said, “prison is a dangerous place.” If people want to find a way to smuggle things in, they are going to find a way. It’s happened before, and it will more than likely happen again. Prisoners still have constitutional rights in prison, so not allowing them to have beards sort of infringes on that. I think they should be allowed to grow them to a certain extent with regulations on how to keep them trimmed. However, I feel like the courts are going to rule in favor of the prisons and not allow beards because it becomes a matter of security.
I think that the prisoner will prevail in the beard growing case. If it's allowed in the majority of the country's prisons, then I don't think they have too strong of an argument. Also, a work around for hiding contraband was mentioned in the article, they could just run their hands through their beard. Also there's plenty of other ways they can sneak in contraband, such as clothes, but they won't ban clothes. I do see long beards being a possible safety concern, but not ones that are a quarter-inch. So, I see the court going in favor of the prisoner to being allowed to grow a quarter-inch one, but not going so far as to allow beards longer than that.
Steffanie A. M/W
I think that the prisoner will win this case.Despite the fact that he is a prisoner, he still has religious rights and should be allowed to have a beard. The possible danger of contraband is something to worry about but it doesn't sound like sneaking it into beards is something that happens too often. I feel that as long as he keeps it clean and neat as well as pass any security checks the prison may have for him then having a beard for religious reasons should be no problem at all.
Natasha G. (Online)
If correctional officers believe inmate's beards are dangerous then I don't think they should be allowed to grow them. I understand that religious freedom is protected by the first amendment, but those rights are taken away when citizens commit crimes. If it was that important to Mr. Holt to be able to practice his religion freely then he shouldn't have committed burglary and domestic battery to the extent that he did.
Hannah Cramer T/H
I think that the prisoner should not be allowed to grow out his beard. It may be his religious freedom to grow out a beard, but, he committed a crime, got caught and got sent to prison. If it is a safety concern for correctional officers and for other inmates, then it should not be allowed. In prison you get your rights taken away, it's just a part of the process.
I can't wait to find out what the ruling will be on the Young v. United Parcel Service case! Especially, since I am currently expecting.
Ludmilla A. -- ONLINE
I believe that a prisoner is in his/her place because they deserve to be. With imprisonment, comes punishment. Prisoners do not have the same rights as citizens on this side of the fence, as one who breaks the law deserves the loss of these rights for not respecting them in the first place. The ability for an inmate to fully execute first amendment rights does not make these rights as valuable for a normal citizen. It would not be fair that a criminal is treated with the same honor as a lawful citizen. A prisoner deserves the freedoms represented in the first amendment, but only to a certain degree. Inmates should be allowed to freely live as they wish under guidelines and restrictions. It's exactly the same thing as attending school as a child. Until college, we as students held first amendment rights. But when I wanted to die my hair blue and pierce my nose, that wasn't allowed. I had to follow certain restrictions made by my school district. In this case, it was for distraction purposes. In the Holt case, it is for safety. Prisons, much like school districts, should follow strict rules and regulations. Once these rules are determined, there should be no arguments against them. If the prisons accept a 1/2 inch beard, then that is the limit. No considerations or arguments should be valid. I think that the court will uphold their decision on a means of safety for the correctional officers and other prisoners. They are there to be punished, that's the price you pay for breaking the law!
Michele Passaretti, T/TH
When it comes to the beard issue, I think that regardless of the fact that prisoners are stripped of their rights as a consequence of their own actions, I think that the 1st Amendment will prevail in this situation. Freedom of religion, something that makes our country great. Expressing your religion is not something that should be stripped from you, even in prison.
Emily Kellar
TTH
Shelby Coke TTh
I am on the fence about the beard issue. I understand he wants it for religious issues but they are right and this could be very dangerous since you can hide things. Even if he would not hide anything in his beard doesn't mean another person in prison wouldn't. I do not think they will allow inmates to grow long beards due to the safety hazard involved in this case.
I don't think prisoners should be allowed to grow out their beards. If correction officers find that long beards can be a security concern, then their regulations and safety needs to come before the prisoner's first amendment rights. In my opinion, the inmate's first amendment rights should be very minimal in prison.
Kayla K.
TTH
In regards to the case arguing if prisoners should be allowed to grow their beards, I believe this would definitely be a violation of the first amendment if prison officials did not allow inmates to grow their beards. As stated in the article, many of them grow facial hair in respects to their religion. Not allowing them to do so would take away their freedom to think freely and their freedom to express themselves freely. Yes, they are in prison due to other instances and many of their rights have and should be taken away in consequence to those. However, the first amendment is a representation for all individuals in this nation. Free speech and freedom to express oneself in religion or whatever other aspect includes prisoners. The law officials should allow inmates to grow their beards whether it's for religious purposes or not.
Jacy F.
MW
I feel if prisoners are not allowed to grow out their beards, then this should be applied everywhere. I feel like it's a weak rule. I'm sure that there are other ways of smuggling anything besides one's beard. If it is not doing much harm to have a beard, I don't see why this rule should be applied. The idea that the rule should be enforced because escaped prisoners can "alter their appearance," they can still alter their appearance with or without the beard. The idea of keeping their beards for religious reasons shouldn't be altered with.
T/TH
If there's one thing i've learned in this class, it's that you can't pick and choose whether or not someone has the right to practice anything that's protected by the First Amendment, no matter how disgraceful or abhorrent someone's actions are.
R.A.V. v. St. Paul, Virginia v. Black, Brandenburg v. Ohio, all of these convictions were overturned by the Supreme Court because the government may not punish those who "communicate messages of racial, gender, or religious intolerance” just because those ideas may be offensive or emotionally painful to many people.
So as far as someone losing "some" of their First Amendment rights because they may or may not have done something that's against the law and they're "just reapin' what they sowed"... It's not a good argument to make. There are way too many things wrong with that for it to be a justified reason why someone couldn't practice there right to religious freedom.
Now, i also understand that it's a matter of safety as well, but let's be honest. If a man can smuggle something that will fit in his beard... and have it not be noticeable... he'll be able to smuggle it some other way despite having a beard or not.
From what i understand and have read "Inmates do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their prison cells and are not protected from "shakedowns," or searches of their cells to look for weapons, drugs, or other contraband"-FindLaw.com
So in my opinion, law officials should allow prisoners to grow out facial hair if it's a part of their religious practice. Shake them down, make them part it somehow, whatever they feel makes it safer, but a prisoners right to practice religious freedom is protected by the First Amendment.
- Melanie Carissimi, M/W
After reading the article on Mr. Holt’s case, I do prison officials may prohibit Muslim inmates from growing the beards required by their faiths. I think it is possible to hide contraband in their beards that could lead to dangerous situations for other inmates and/or prison officials. I don’t keep up with court cases as much as I should but I was shocked to find out that some corporations could refuse to provide contraception coverage to their workers on religious grounds. I think that every should have the option of contraception coverage no matter where they are employed.
Regarding the Holt case. I can see both sides of the argument. As a religious person I would feel violated to have my right to practice taken away. But when you are sent to prison some rights are taken away from you and that is one of the punishments for your crime. At fist I really didn't see the harm in letting the man grow his beard until I read about the suicide a man committed with a razor. If it is a safety issue which it seems it clearly can be then the prison has the right to protect themselves and other inmates. I see both sides so I am on the fence on how this will be ruled.
Molly Dodge MW
In regards to the case arguing if prisoners should be allowed to grow their beards, at first I thought what is the problem and why would they restrict this? Definitely thought it was a violation of First Amendment rights. After further reading I saw that safety was a big issue. I don't think anyone should be put at risk, especially if these things HAVE happened in the past... Unfortunately these inmates have committed a crime and have to deal with the consequences. If they hadn't done wrong they would be able to have full First Amendment rights.
Aliena B, TTH
The Holt v. Hobbs case was rather fascinating to me. I didn’t think a case like this could be serious enough to reach the Supreme Court. In my opinion, I think the inmate should be able to grow out his beard to whatever length he wants. Them not letting him grow it out would be violating his rights to religious freedom. Yes, the possible danger of contraband is something to worry about, but maybe 1 out of 30 people would maybe think to hide it in their beards. I see Holt winning this case, simply because he is growing out his beard due to religious reasons.
Lindsey Snoga, TTH 2:00
In the Holt v. Hobbs case, I rallied back and forth in my head whether I felt that this was right or wrong. With your faith and religious freedom, you should be able to display that however you please. Since Holt is a prisoner, the officials are trying to take away his First Amendment rights while he is inside of their institution. This institution that is paid for with our tax dollars. Is this now a private property issue?
I do get the issue behind beards and concealing "deadly weapons" but the further I read into the case, the funnier it all seemed. There is significant doubt within the alleged stories and the "partly true testimony." It just doesn't seem realistic when you really think about it. It makes you think that they realize this as well, which makes our political system this much more corrupt. Even then, I have to look at it with victory for Holt and any other inmates who deserve to speak up for their religious freedom. This is a First Amendment issue that is unconstitutional.
My initial reaction about the prisoners beards was, "Why would they restrict that?" I didn't even think that it would be a security hazard. I think that a prisoner would have plenty other means of hiding something besides his beard. I definitely think that restricting the beards for religious reasons is in violation of the First Amendment. I think the prisoners should be allowed to have the beards as long as they can be inspected.
Devan Flores TTH 2 p.m.
In regards to the case dealing with prisoners and allowing them grow out their beards, I agree and disagree because everyone has the freedom of religion. The reason why I would disagree is because they broke the law. They may have committed some horrible act, so what makes it okay for them to have rights?? Also, if prisoners are able to hide things in their beards isn't that another crime they are committing?
Preston Arroyo M/W 3:30
I think the prisoner can, and will be, allowed to keep his beard because it's a part of his religion. Even prisoners should have the right to freedom of religion because it would be unconstitutional to take that away from someone. When I started reading, I thought having a beard in prison sounded harmless, but when I read that one prisoner hid a blade in his and later committed suicide with it, I was surprised. But, I do think that prisoners can hide weapons anywhere, so I don't think a beard is the problem.
Samantha L., TTh
Regardless of the heinous actions of the prisoner, he does have the right to have a beard as is part of his religion. It's a touch topic for the Supreme Court to debate. I fully understand the concerns the Government has since it poses a security risk to have a beard that is too long. Yet, I believe the prisoner will win because he still has the right to express his religion which does include having a beard at full length. We will just have to wait and see as the days go on.
Alan Espejel TTh
As I skimmed through the article, I thought about the original basis the country was created. People who couldn't practice their own religion came to America where they could have this freedom. Although they are prisoners, I feel that they should have the freedom to express their own beliefs. I understand the reasoning behind inmates smuggling harmful items within the facilities, but there are other alternative ways to handle that issue. My suggestion would be to search those with beards to insure the safety of others. It would be understandable to enforce this among inmates that have been caught numerously but not to enforce this on every prisoner rather than stereotype that issue on each inmate that grows a beard.
Alexandra Garcia
TTH
I believe the prisoner has the right to grow a beard as part of his religion. While the government's concerns are valid they shouldn't be allowed to prevent him from expressing his religion. Also, a half-inch beard isn't that long so it would be very hard to hide something in it but even with that argument there are ways to search the beard to prevent prisoners from smuggling things in. I think until the prisoner has shown that him having a beard is a problem they should allow him to have one.
Caryn Williams TTH
I'm torn with the case about the prisoner. I absolutely believe that a person's freedom of religion should apply in every situation, however, I do not think it will apply for Abdul Maalik Muhammad. When you are arrested, you are stripped of your rights. It's part of the consequence for your wrong-doing, so losing the freedom of religious expression should apply to any and all prisoners, especially if safety is a matter of concern. I think in this situation, however, Muhammad may have a very good chance of winning due to the fact that his sole purpose of growing the beard is for religious purposes.
Madelynne Scales
MW
Rules implemented in prison I understand are for a reason and for the safety of others. However, I think telling a prisoner not to grow a beard is going completely overboard in my opinion. I can see the reasoning behind how someone can think prisoners can hide something, but I do not believe that restricting one's right to express themselves is the solution. There are several other methods in resolving this. Going against people's right of the first amendment will almost always end in controversy.
Olympia Mendoza
MW
I believe that the prisoner should be allowed to grow out his beard, especially since prisoners in other states are allowed to do so. I also agree with Mr. Holt, who stated that prisoners could be made to run their hands through their beards, and that the jail could take pictures of the inmates with and without beards. I think that the inmate's will, or at least should, win the argument.
Ashley Shoemake
MW 3:30
Based on the precedent of the Hobby Lobby case, you would think that the court would rule in favor of the prisoner and allow him to grow out his beard for religious purposes. I believe that the court will rule in favor of the prison, however, stating that safety in hostile environments such as prisons, is more important than being able to practice specific religious beliefs. I don't agree with it, but I believe that is what the court will rule.
Cory Bacon MW 3:30-450
Raymond G. M/W 3:30
I personally do not think that the prisoner will prevail. Unfortunately, in our society, children are treated likewise to prisoners, therefore; I think the verdict will be similar to those pertaining cases. Although religious freedom is a viable issue, should a convicted criminal be endowed with all the liberties of a law-abiding citizen? Deference should be, with few exceptions, left to those individuals tasked with protecting inmates from each other and themselves. Similar to the position of a Principal having ultimate control over students, I would agree with control granted to a Warden of a prison. It is not for a Justice who is safe outside of prison walls to grant rights to convicted, violent criminals. Not to mention, that because of a supposed religious reason, every other prisoner and all of the guards would be directly threatened when there is a possibility of a prisoner hurting them because of their ability to potentially and easily carry contraband. Maybe the argument should be made that if this man was such a “devout” Muslim, perhaps he would and should not have committed Felony Burglary and Domestic Battery. In the article, the Law professor from Cardozo tries to compare ” how the supreme court granted religious freedoms to corporations, so does this mean they should grant them to prisoners as well? I'm not sure how the two are even connected, as Hobby Lobby (an openly Christian based company) was not required to provide certain types of birth control to their employees because they view that as murder of a conceived life. Life at conception? Also I noticed a few students speaking about how it is so rediculous and unfair how Hobby Lobby was “denying” birth control to women. The fact is that Hobby Lobby disagreed with only 4 contraceptives out of 20 plus that are currently offered through it's insurance. Plan B, Ella, and the two IUDs, ParaGard and Mirena. They did not deny anyone anything just fought on the premise since they did not believe in those 4 because of their said religion they should not be forced to pay for them for their employees. Why would this proffesor make the rationalization that an actual murderer would deserve the same rights as a law abiding, god-fearing company? Also, it is important to note that if this same man was a Christian, no matter what the supposed "right" he was seeking, it would most certainly not be considered to this measure. Our politically correct society hears the word Muslim and then instantly jumps on the "fairness" wagon to ensure that no man, woman, and child is ever offended by the unfairness of the inability to practice their said religion. Unless of course, it is Christianity. It is only found discriminating to pray to God in schools and many other institutions. As long as it's some other deity or religion, it is A-OKAY because we couldn't dare risk infringing on their "freedom of religion."
I believe that in the case of the inmate not being allowed to grow a beard, is violating his rights. Yes, he is a criminal and he is in jail and should be punished but if its religious he should be allowed to express it. Prisoners are after all still citizens and should be given the same rights as a free man to an extent, of course. I feel like the prisoner will not prevail, due to the fact that he is already in prison and the supreme court might just deny him the right since he is a criminal that should be punished. Taking his religious freedom away will punish him further and only make the prison sentence that much more uncomfortable.
For the prisoner's beard case, I can see the concern for concealing contraband being an issue, but the prisoners should be allowed to grow their beard if it truly is for their religion. They beard can easily be inspected. Though there is a concern that it may harm the inspector, if done correctly, it shouldn't be a concern. Even as a convicted felon, prisoner should be able to practice their religious freedom. Sadly, I feel that the prisoners will not win, due to the risk being brought up and the fact they are prisoners. Since they are already prisoners, they are being stripped of their freedoms due to their lawless actions. I feel that if they strip one religious freedom, in the future they may strip more from other prisoners of whatever religious affiliation they have.
Candace E. TTH 2:00 P.M.
I believe that the prisoner should be allowed to grow his beard. It seems that a beard would not be able to hide contraband anyway so I do not think this is a good reason for the prisoner to not be allowed to grow his beard. I think that the USSC will rule in favor of the prison, because of the potential safety hazards that could come along with the beard. I believe that the USSC should rule in favor of the prisoner because it is his first amendment right and there are many other ways a prisoner could hide contraband besides a beard.
I believe that the prisoner should be allowed to grow his beard. It seems that a beard would not be able to hide contraband anyway so I do not think this is a good reason for the prisoner to not be allowed to grow his beard. I think that the USSC will rule in favor of the prison, because of the potential safety hazards that could come along with the beard. I believe that the USSC should rule in favor of the prisoner because it is his first amendment right and there are many other ways a prisoner could hide contraband besides a beard.
MW 3:30 Class
I believe that the prisoner should not be allowed to grow his bead even if it is for religious reasons. As a prisoner, you give up a lot your rights. One deserves to express their freedom, but only those who do not commit serious crimes. If he was too worried about what rights he would lose, then he would not be in a prison in the first place. With this, I believe that the USSC should rule against the prisoner. Officers and prison guards are trained to watch for other prisoners safety and manners. If they are having a harder time keeping prisoners safe due to hiding contraband in their beards then the best thing to do is make them keep their beards shorter. This would take out one more worry of dangerous activity.
TTH 2:00
Haley Watson
Although the prisoners argument is freedom of religious expression, the court will probably decide to rule against him for the purpose of safety. Control and prevention of contraband entering the prison is a safety issue regarding the lives of the inmates and guards, and because this directly relates to the well-being of peoples lives, no risk can be taken. Thus, the court will most likely rule that although growing a beard for religious reasons should be protected, it inflicts on public safety and trumps the prisoners religious freedom.
MW 3:30
Kristopher Garza
I believe the Supreme Court ruling should be in favor of the prisoner. The growing of his beard for religious purposes should be allowed, just so long as there are regulations.
The idea that prisoners could conceal weapons within their beards is just idiotic. This argument has no weight as the prisoners could easily be asked to run their hands through their beards.
If there was a way to prove that allowing prisoners to grow more facial hair was a bad thing, I might could see the benefit in making them shave.
However, I actually see it as a legal form of prejudice. I hope that changes soon.
Hannah C -- Online
In my opinion, I don't think that the measures that the prison officials are asking concerning facial hair is not venturing out of it's jurisdiction. There are many other precautions that prisons take to ensure that contraband doesn't find its way into prison systems. To me, this is just another tool being used by officials in an attempt to make certain that the safety of inmates and guards alike remains defended. It isn't as if the prison systems are saying that inmates aren't allowed to practice their religion, they are still allowed to pray. Also, as long as beards are preventatively being taken away from all inmates, not just muslims, should demonstrates that it is not the prison system's intent to directly discriminate against muslims or their religion.
Matthew D MW
The First Amendment protects freedoms, such as religion. However, these are prisoners. Unless falsely accused, these prisoners deserve no freedoms what so ever, and deserve punishment. This is also a safety issue, so yes, they must shave their beards.
Jacqueline D. Online
In the Holt vs. Hobbs case, one comment by the prison officials was especially troubling for me. The officials said, "Courts should not insist on studies, data or concrete examples." To me, this means that the prisons are asking to do whatever they please with no government supervision. It completely goes against all checks and balances of our society and is asking for special privileges that destruct the basic rights of prisoners.
I hope that this case is ruled in favor of the prisoner to retain basic freedoms for prisoners and ensure that the court is being fair in every circumstance.
Katie B TTH
I am a little torn in the Holt vs. Hobbs case. The problem that I see accruing would be once allowing this because of religious freedom, how many others would stand to get more rules changed because of other religions.
The definition of religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power. If this passed, could a inmate make the claim that he needs to or did an action because of his/her religion. Could it grow into a problem into allowing more and more freedoms in an institution that was designed to limit freedoms because of crimes and actions committed?
I am torn because I am a avid believer in our given rights, but the should we allow to give those freedoms to those whom have been convicted of breaking law in the first place?
Janelle H (MW)
I think prisoners should be allowed to have a beard if they are showing good behavior. It should be more of a privilege rather than a right. An inmate having a beard can cause a lot of safety concerns for the staff of the prison and fellow inmates so it shouldn't be taken lightly. I don't think that just because you are in prison you should lose all your rights. Some people are in prison and are just trying to turn their lives around. Giving them rewards for good behavior may increase their good behavior because they see the reward that comes with it.
Marisa G - MW
It may be part of religious freedom/expression, but it also poses a significant risk to everyone in the prison. What would happen if EVERYONE started claiming they needed to grow out their hair/beards for religious reasons, but then used them for attacks on other prisoners? In my opinion, it's just too dangerous to even think of allowing.
I think Holt should be able to grow a beard. It's silly that if he were being held in one of the 40 state prisons that allow beards, this wouldn't be an issue. Come on, Arkansas. As presented in this article, there are ways to keep the inmates from hiding weapons in their beard, but let's be honest- if they want to hide something, they're going to find a way to do it. It's not fair to keep him from doing something for religious purposes. I think, and hope, the Supreme Court will allow him to have a beard and then suggest the other prison systems follow suit and allow their inmates to have beards.
Taylor K. (MW)
I can really see both sides of the prison beard case. I have an aunt that works as a peace officer in the California prison system and I would be worried about her having to frisk someone's beard because of the possibility of something dangerous hiding underneath it. However, I think there could be some kind of comb used to avoid actually touching it.
Someone mentioned there being many other religious freedoms that aren't allowed in the prison systems…I think that is a pretty valid point, although I couldn't give you a list of them. But if there are many that are not allowed perhaps that should be addressed as well.
For the upcoming cases this year I'm most curious to see what happens in Eien v. North Carolina (whether a police officer's mistake of law can support the "individualized suspicion" required by the Fourth Amendment to justify a traffic stop).
Shelby C. (TTh)
Ill let you know what I think, then let you know what I think will happen. I think that prisoners give up a lot of rights when they are convicted of crimes. First amendment right are not on that list in my opinion. I also think that once they are allowed to grow their beards the length might have to be regulated by the prison in which they are incarcerated. That being said my idea is probably too much work and slightly impractical. On to what i think will actually happen? No beards across the board; they pose a safety threat to guards and other prisoners. "Prisons are dangerous places."
Eli Ratcliff TTh
This is interesting and both sides have valid points. It is important not to infringe upon religious rights, but I just have to say that prisoners are prisoners, they have lost rights. If the court makes the decision that not allowing beards is necessary for safety issues then so be it. Although, the other side of me says, it’s just a beard. Who cares? Let him have it. I have to lean towards banning beards solely based on the fact we are talking about prisoners.
Taylor Campbell (TTH)
While I do understand why they want to prohibit facial hair on inmates, I still feel that it's taking away their rights. Inmates should be able to grow a beard if it has to do with religious reasoning. If it were my decision I would let them grow out their facial hair because I would not want to infringe upon their rights (even though they are prisoners)
Sara Shields
T/Th 2:00
I believe in prison they have no rights and they have to obey rules and regulation. If the prison does not want you to have a beard you must not have a beard. People not in prison have rights, prisoners do not.
Chris Cesario
T/TH
I believe this whole beard thing is a complete waste of time...If you commit a crime and are sentenced to time in prison as far as I'm concerned you should have all rights taken away upon entering. Including religious beliefs involving facial hair.
Dillon B.
ID: A02524837
T/TH @ 2:00
I understand where safety is an important issue and should not be taken lightly; but this is absurd. The elaborated account of the prisoner sneaking in a blade and committing suicide is firstly untrue and the attention to one account of hidden-blade-beard-suicide does not show reasonable evidence that this is a large-scale issue; and it leads me to believe there is an ulterior motive.
I personally believe that the prisoners who truly want to sneak in contraband are going to do so with or without the allowance of beards. The permitted beard length simply does not allow for an underground railroad of legitimately dangerous items, a quarter of an inch cover does not go too far. I would be more sympathetic to the banning of beards if they were too long to be combed through by the guards, and that the concealment of items was so vast that real statistics could vouch for a widespread problem.
Even then, maybe they could draw the line where beards need to be trimmed at the point when the officer can no longer inspect it.
Correctional officers sign a contract agreeing to monitor an inmates' "squat and cough'" cavity... Combing through beard hair in support of the freedom of religion hardly sounds daunting in comparison.
Allison C, MW
It's possible to think that the prisoner would prevail with the case based off the facts that not only is he being supported by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberties, a group of lawyers who are best known for their success with the recent Hobby Lobby case, but also by the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which is a U.S. federal law that prohibits the imposition of burdens on the ability of prisoners to worship as they please.
In respect of the success of a previous RLUIPA case, Cutter v. Wilkinson, if Arkansas prisons, including where Holt is serving, want to impose certain restrictions, such as the alleged "substantial burden" of Holt's beard length, and escape the restrictions of RLUIPA, then all they have to do is refuse federal funds for state prisons, as noted by the U.S. Supreme Court.
In regards to the first article about the Muslim religious freedom to grow a beard in prison... I don't think it should be allowed. Part of going to prison is losing your FREEDOMS, the freedoms you risked by breaking the law. If the rule at the prison you're in is that you're not allowed to have a beard, you should not be allowed to have a beard. HOWEVER.. Considering the fact that the supreme court let an entity choose to NOT allow women working for it to gain bodily autonomy benefits.. I'd say anything is possible. They may let that fool win. Religious freedom over anything, right?
As for the second link, I would've had to make some account to view it, and the last thing I need is more unwanted emails.
Kelly K.
TR 2 p.m.
I think that based on what Judge Volpe said, the prisoner should prevail. There are plenty more likely places a prisoner may hide contraband than in a beard. They have no evidence of facial hair directly leading to trouble, and when the issue is an established religious practice that the prisoner had already participated in before even being in prison, I see little reason they should take away his right to have facial hair. I also think it's very sketchy that Mr. Hobbs distorted the story of a prisoner committing suicide with a razor. He made is sound like it had been smuggled in to prison via the beard.
-Kirsten P. T/TH
I think prisoners should be allowed to grow out their beards for religious reasons because they have already given up a lot to be held in captivity. If the Supreme Court decided to not allow prisoners to perform this act, I think it would violate their 1st Amendment. It should be up to the prisoner themselves to make the decision on whether or not they want to grow a beard for religious purposes. However, the Supreme Court clearly holds more power over the prisoners and the general decision itself.
Chanell Heeter, TTH
I believe that prisoners should be allowed to grow beards and that this should not be a top priority to anyone, especially the USSC. The Supreme Court has a lot more to worry about besides whether or now inmates can grow facial hair.
Leighton Choate
T/TH
I don't think the prisoner has a good case, because there is too much history to back up the idea that banning facial hair in prisons is due to and to prevent gang violence. There have been laws in France passed banning hijab, but those have been challenged multiple times because they infringe on personal freedoms of expression. If the legal team behind the prisoner can make a good case in favor of his religious right rather than his personal expression, he may have a shot.
I highly respect the freedom of religion stated in the First Amendment. At first I thought it would be absurd if they did not allow inmates to grow a beard in order to practice their religion (since they already are limited to how they can practice their religious beliefs if they are incarcerated.) However, after reading this article I realized it could be a major issue if inmates are allowed to grow a beard, since they could sneak hazardous objects that can injure themselves or other prisoners. Even though there has one been one incident involving Steven Oldham whom committed suicide with a razor in prison, I think this may lead to a series of more incidents because it will give other inmates the idea of how easy it may be to grow a beard just for the reason to hide weapons with the excuse that it is for a “religious purpose.” I think that even though the Supreme Court ruled that for now Mr. Holt is allowed to grow a beard, for the safety of the prisoners I think it’s best for them to not allow men to grow beards if they are going to take advantage of the situation.
Katja G.
M/W
Going to prison means that you follow the rules set for you. If the prison does not allow beards then the prisoners should abide by that. Their freedoms have been taken away, and that one is included. I also agree that the Supreme Court should be dealing with issues that are (in my opinion) more important than whether or not someone who is already in prison can grow facial hair, that should be up to each prison warden to decide.
Marilyn G. - Online
I commented on this a while back but as I'm looking through the comments I can't find mine so I'm just going to do it again just in case. Though the first amendment obviously protects citizens' rights to grow a beard, once you are a prisoner, you lose those privileges. If the prison finds the beard to be dangerous (or even if not), they the right to force a prisoner to shave it.
I do not think the prisoners should be allowed to grow their beards out. Prison is supposed to be a place where you go to be punished for your wrong doings, and part of that is not being able to do whatever you want. My thought is that if you wanted to be a free man and express yourself, you shouldn't have done the actions that made you a prisoner. I do not think that beards could be dangerous, but prisons make rules for a reason. If this prisoner were to win the case, that would create a snowball affect of many more rights to be allowed after that, which wouldn't be good.
Laura Moss
MW
I do not think the court will rule in favor of the Muslim prisoner because unfortunately we lose a lot of our civil liberties when detained for any long period of time. When someone is in prison this denotes a more severe offense and even less rights are afforded to the inmates. A compelling interest could be proven on the part of the prison administration by using the previous arguments that beards (of any length) are a threat to prison security and prison personnel safety.
Jesse Sutera MW Class
I think the prisoners should be allowed to have facial hair but the length is up to the facility they are placed at. If that facility has had numerous incidents where inmates have sneaked in contraband then it would make sense for them to no longer allow long facial hair. As far as religious purposes go i think the inmate should be allowed to grow his beard.Taking that right away would be violating his first amendment right. I do not think the supreme court will be in favor of him since there has been incidents in the past but i do think they can find a better way to regulate where and what inmates sneak in.
Danielle Cisneros MW
I think Holt will win if the Supreme Court focuses solely on freedom of religion. Growing a beard is required by his faith, so I think that the court will rule that the prison is violating Holt's First Amendment rights by prohibiting him from growing the beard.
Araceli Bautista TTh 2-3:20
After reading the article about Holt's beard issue, I'm in a quandary and am sitting on the fence about what is right. I can agree with Holt's side because if he isn't allowed to grow a beard because of religious reasons, he is being denied his 1st amendment rights. Is he entitled to those rights as a prisoner? Let alone residing in a state that prohibits beards in that prison. If he were to prevail, he would have to have extra security to make sure he's not hiding anything.
On the other side, I can see how this issue can be a major concern for prisoners and all security personnel. Something crazy can happen either way. Individuals will find a way to hide something, as stated in other cases!
Hillary Ochoa (T/Th)
On the subject of beards being allowed in prison because of a religious belief, it is hard to decide my position. On one side, I want to argue that it is their right to continue to practice religion. Religion is one of the things that often "changes" these criminals for the better. Some of the prisoners preach Christianity to others and that has never been questioned, each religion should have its own right to be respected. In my opinion, a beard is not hurting anyone. On the other end, a part of going to prison your rights are restricted for a reason of punishment. Although I do not agree with religion, I do see it as a good crutch for some people to become a better person. All in all, I would side with allowing it. Prisons should focus on rehabilitating the inmates and improving their life skills to make them more able to integrate back into society.
Zach Rowley
T/TH
In the case of Holt v. Hobbs, I feel that although he is a prisoner, and many of his rights have been taken away from him, the court will rule in his favor. I think they will because the First Amendment is so powerful, and not allowing anyone, even prisoners, to follow their religion rights is interfering with this amendment. I just feel that if a prisoner really wanted to hide contraband, they would find a way to do so with or without a beard. But, if class discussions are any indication of how these cases work, then I wouldn't be surprised if they ruled either way really.
Tesia G
MW 3:30
I would consider myself a person with a strong faith. So naturally, I would say that YES, inmates should be allowed to grow their beards to a certain length based on their religion.
However, I also consider a lot of things that could go wrong with this permission.
Firstly, it would be often difficult to prove/disprove someones claims to a religion based on their physical appearance. Just because someone states to be a certain religion, or appears to be of a certain religion, doesn't mean that they really are. (Like it says in the article, they could be making false claims of religion for another agenda such as hiding needles, etc in their beards.)
Second, I think of the corrections officers, police officers and other men and women who work at prisons. They're putting their lives even MORE in danger with the possibility of an inmate having a needle or razor blade in their bear.
I just feel like allowing this is not worth the potential consequences.
Patricia M. MW
I agree with Jessica Fleet's comment about the case involving the prisoners' beards. Safety is one of the many priorities in prisons and beards are not allowed for many reasons. I understand that many of the people who were imprisoned were religiously devout, but after all they are in prison!
I believe the prisoners should be allowed to grow their beards. To say that half an inch is enough to sneak contraband or weapons in is absurd. While a separation of church and state may seem like an obvious distinction for prisons to make, I feel they should reconsider. This is clearly an issue of first amendment rights, the kind that should never have to be shed at the prison gate. Having faith in SOMETHING has gotten me through some of the toughest times in life and my experiences have not come anywhere near what I assume these prisoners are experiencing. Faith in peaceful religions seems like something that would be excused for someone who is trying to make a full recovery, and in this case they should come to a compromise. Half an inch sounds totally reasonable, and the fact that they are trying to give false testimony to support their argument makes their motives seem questionable.
Patrick Connor Markey - MW
I don't think prisoners should be allowed to grow beards longer than a quarter of an inch. They could very well hide things in their beard. Most of the prisoners chose a life of crime and they were placed in prison. They already get three square meals a day and health care. There are elderly not in prison who don't get the same benefits. Most of those prisoners are in there for a reason. They shouldn't be allowed to grow their beard because it could endanger the other prisoners and guards.
Sorry forgot to post my name and class so I am re-posting the whole thing
I don't think prisoners should be allowed to grow beards longer than a quarter of an inch. They could very well hide things in their beard. Most of the prisoners chose a life of crime and they were placed in prison. They already get three square meals a day and health care. There are elderly not in prison who don't get the same benefits. Most of those prisoners are in there for a reason. They shouldn't be allowed to grow their beard because it could endanger the other prisoners and guards.
Daniel P
MW 3:30
As a prisoner I don't believe you should have any rights including any religious rights. You broke the law in some way shape or form and there for are not entitled to any of your freedoms. As for the beards I see them as something that a prisoner could see as a way to hide weapons and what not. The last thing that needs to happens is for our police men and women getting hurt because someone found a way to smuggle in a weapon be it a beard of not. Lets reduce the risk to nothing if possible.
Michael M. MW
Chris Chaney M/W @ 3:30
I am complete agreement that for religious purposes inmates can be allowed to grow their facial hair. Both freedom of expression and freedom of religion can be put into question. I understand the argument of trying to prevent weapons from entering the system and that can be fixed with regulation but you cannot restrict religious views and acts.
Jazmine Myles MW 3:30pm
I would have to agree with the comments about going to prison and losing most of your privileges. A part of going to prison is losing your privileges and liberties. With recent events concerning our justice system, we have much more to worry about than the religious freedoms of our prisoners.
Kristen Smith- MW 3:30
I think it is ridiculous that there even has to be an argument about this. Religious freedom should apply to everyone, regardless of whether or not they are behind bars. While I understand that there are reasons for the way that prisons function, I also think that there is an unseen level of corruption. This kind of ties into the inmate not being allowed to have a beard for religious reasons. There are much bigger issues at hand, and the facial puberty of inmates doesn't seem to be one of them.
In classic philosophy, one's rights end where another's begin. If a prisoner has been convicted of a crime against society, they lose whatever rights the sentencing judge or jailing institution sees fit. If said prisoner desires to exercise personal freedoms then they should follow the laws of the land and maintain moral responsibility enough to live the lifestyle they feel they deserve. If we allow prisoners to do whatever they please while incarcerated, what incentive remains to be a law abiding, responsible citizen?
I believe that everyone has the right to their freedom of religion, but I also believe in upholding the law. If these inmates have broken the law, then clearly they have no respect for it, and henceforth why should they be given the privilege of having the same freedoms that everyone who follows the law has? I think that if more cases surface that prove that inmates are using their beards to hide weapons then they will lose their case. Whether they are growing a beard for religious purposes or not, if they are hiding harmful pieces in it, there should not even be an argument as to if they can have a beard, just make them shave.
Elizabeth D. T/TH Class.
I do not believe that inmates should be able to grow their beards out for religious reasons. I respect other religions, and have a strong faith myself, however these men are criminals and have shown they cannot be trusted. The safety of not only the prisoner, but also fellow inmates and officers are at stake. Honestly, they can get over it.
Raelyn Bobo (MW)
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