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Askthejudge.info features regular updates from the news, important decisions from the nation′s courts, and online discussions with Judge Tom. Find out everything you need to know about youth rights, juvenile law and juvenile justice. AsktheJudge – Empowering youth one question at a time.

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Copyright, 2014
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February 5, 2015
Judge Tom
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1

Does a male inmate have a right to grow a beard?

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We recognize this is a stretch, but juveniles who are tried and sentenced to prison as adults, are affected by a recent Supreme Court decision.

In the case of Holt v. Hobbs, Gregory Holt (also known as Abdul Maalik Muhammad), wanted to grow a half-inch beard because of his religious beliefs. Holt is a Muslim and serving a life sentence in Arkansas. Prison rules regarding inmate grooming prohibit facial hair except for mustaches.

shaving brushHolt challenged the rules claiming his religious rights were violated. The prison asserted that inmate and staff safety justified the rule since weapons like needles and razor blades could be hidden in one’s beard. Two lower courts sided with the prison and ruled against Holt. However, in January, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the lower courts and ruled in Holt’s favor. The decision was unanimous, nine to zero.

Justice Alito, who wrote the majority opinion, stated as follows: “Since the Department does not demand that inmates have shaved heads or short crew cuts, it is hard to see why an inmate would seek to hide contraband in a 1/2 inch beard rather than in the longer hair on his head. . . . Hair on the head is a more plausible place to hide contraband, . . . and the same is true of an inmate’s clothing and shoes. Nevertheless, the Department does not require inmates to go about bald, barefoot or naked.” The Court further addressed the prison’s concern over disguises by stating that photos could be taken of inmates upon entry and periodically thereafter if an inmate decided to grow a beard.

 

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The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

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1 Comment

  • lynn
    March 19, 2015 12:09 am count( 0 )

    Valid points there by the Judge.However the growing of beard is not obligatory in Islam.
    Thanks for writing us, Lynn. -ATJ.info