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Virginia Prison’s Policy Requiring Physical Indicia of Faith for Religious Sincerity Held Unconstitutional; Suit Settles for $3,795
Loaded on Jan. 10, 2015
by David Reutter
published in Prison Legal News
January, 2015, page 34
Filed under:
Mootness,
Qualified Immunity,
Religious Diet,
Denial of Religious Services,
Religious Property.
Location:
Virginia.
Virginia Prison’s Policy Requiring Physical Indicia of Faith for Religious Sincerity Held Unconstitutional; Suit Settles for $3,795
by David M. Reutter
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated a summary judgment order in favor of prison officials entered in a lawsuit challenging a prison policy that …
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More from this issue:
- When Halfway Houses Pose Full-Time Problems, by Derek Gilna
- Prison Legal News Prevails in Tennessee Public Records Suit in Spite of Sheriff’s Antics
- “Ban the Box” Campaigns Seek to End Discrimination Against Formerly Incarcerated College Applicants, by Victoria Law
- Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law Struck Down, Some Prisoners Released, by David Reutter
- Colorado Prisoner Sues Security Guard Who Sexually Abused Her Moments after Giving Birth
- News in Brief
- Florida Supreme Court: Review of Parole Commission Revocation Order Limited, by David Reutter
- Fifth Circuit Holds Prison Officials Need Not be Named in Grievances, by Matthew Clarke
- Georgia: Mandamus Available to Compel Law Library Access, by David Reutter
- Malpractice Suit Proceeds against Michigan Defense Attorney in Wrongful Conviction Case, by David Reutter
- The Globalization of Supermax Prisons, edited by Jeffrey Ian Ross (Rutgers University Press, 2013). 240 pages, $28.95 paperback, by Gary Hunter
- Jail Closes “God Pod,” Agrees to Accommodate Muslim Prisoners
- California Parole Term Not Shortened by Improper Parole Denial, by Mark Wilson
- Introduction of Nolo Plea to Challenge Prisoner’s Credibility was Error, by David Reutter
- Ohio DOC Director Wants Return to Stricter Law after 2012 Spike in Positive Drug Tests
- Florida Court of Appeals: Prison Guards Can Raise “Stand Your Ground” Defense, by Matthew Clarke
- Fifth Circuit: Sleep Deprivation May Violate Eighth Amendment, by Matthew Clarke
- West Virginia Public Defender Disbarred for Child Prostitution “Hoax”
- $145,000 Settlement for U.S. Citizen Held on Immigration Detainer due to Racial Profiling
- Prisoner’s Request for Medical Care after Signing Refusal Form Precludes Summary Judgment, by David Reutter
- Investigation Finds that Money Stolen from Oregon Prison Wasn’t Really Stolen, by Joe Watson
- America’s Prisons: A Road to Nowhere, by Ben Notterman
- RLUIPA Explained in Tenth Circuit Decision re Denial of Sweat Lodge Access, by David Reutter
- Consent Decree and Remedial Plan End Lawsuit Challenging Conditions in Illinois Juvenile Facilities, by Matthew Clarke
- Tennessee Man Sues for Placement in Women’s Facility for Three Years
- Tenth Circuit: No Qualified Immunity for Juvenile Restraint Chair Punishment, by Mark Wilson
- CCA Board Member Steps Down from Open Government Organization
- Virginia Prison’s Policy Requiring Physical Indicia of Faith for Religious Sincerity Held Unconstitutional; Suit Settles for $3,795, by David Reutter
- Florida Death Row Prisoner Entitled to Prison and Medical Records, by David Reutter
- State Appellate Costs Improper on Washington PRP Dismissal, by Mark Wilson
- Texas Prison Population Drops as Guard Shortage Persists, by Matthew Clarke
- Federal Court Orders Colorado to Provide Outdoor Recreation to Supermax Prisoner, by Matthew Clarke
- Admission of Jail Disciplinary Records at Criminal Trial May Violate Confrontation Clause, by David Reutter
- Oklahoma Supreme Court Remands Consolidated Sex Offender Registration Case, by Shepherd Litsey
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Controversy, Criticism Plague Brooklyn Halfway House, by Derek Gilna
More from David Reutter:
- Eight Circuit Reverses Denial of Partial Qualified Immunity in Detainee’s Pepper Ball Claim, Remands Excessive Force Claims, Sept. 1, 2026
- Nevada Prisoners, Families Call Out Predatory Tablet Program, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit: Error in Granting Judgment Prior to Adjudging Spoliation Motion, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity in Strip Searches Resulting from Anonymous Tips, Sept. 1, 2026
- Tenth Circuit: Colorado Governor Unentitled to Eleventh Amendment Immunity on Claim Related to DOC Religious Policies, Aug. 1, 2026
- Michigan Appeals Court: Witnesses Cannot be Forced to Wear Jail Clothes at Trial, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of State-Law Qualified Immunity in Scabies Case, Aug. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Revives Disabled Prisoner’s Claim for Denial of Out-of-Cell Exercise Time, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Fourth Circuit Upholds Denial of Qualified Immunity to Jail Supervisors Who Ignored Detainee’s Cranial Abscesses, Oct. 1, 2026. Failure to Treat, Infections, Qualified Immunity, Fourteenth Amendment, rights, Deliberate Indifference.
- Sixth Circuit: Qualified Immunity Granted to Guard in Delayed Treatment for Prisoner who Suffered Heart Attack, Oct. 1, 2026. Pain, Cardiovascular, Failure to Treat, Qualified Immunity, Deliberate Indifference.
- Ninth Circuit Rules Favorably for Washington Prisoner Whose Writing Submission Was Censored, Oct. 1, 2026. Retaliation, Qualified Immunity, Mail Regulations, Censorship, First Amendment, rights.
- Eighth Circuit Reverses District Court’s Denial of Motion to Dismiss Some Defendants from Lawsuit Over Missouri Prisoner’s Suicide, Oct. 1, 2026. Qualified Immunity, Sovereign Immunity, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Suicides, Deliberate Indifference.
- Second Circuit Affirms Denial of Qualified Immunity but Clarifies that 14th Amendment ‘Objective Reasonableness’ Is Standard of Review for Pretrial Detainee’s Claim of Sexual Abuse, Oct. 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Qualified Immunity, Fourteenth Amendment, rights, Pretrial Detention and Detainees, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Eighth Circuit Grants Summary Judgment to Sheriff and County of Nebraska Jail Where Guard Sexually Assaulted Female Prisoner, Oct. 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Failure to Protect (General), Qualified Immunity, Failure to Train/Supervise, Monell Liability.
- Second Circuit Rules Eighth Amendment Governs Claims of Excessive Force Brought by Parole Violator, Oct. 1, 2026. Eighth Amendment, Excessive Force, Qualified Immunity, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Probation, Parole & Supervised Release.
- Eight Circuit Reverses Denial of Partial Qualified Immunity in Detainee’s Pepper Ball Claim, Remands Excessive Force Claims, Sept. 1, 2026. Guard Brutality/Beatings, Stun Guns/Tasers, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Qualified Immunity, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity in Strip Searches Resulting from Anonymous Tips, Sept. 1, 2026. Strip Searches, Qualified Immunity, Fourth Amendment, rights, Suspicionless Searches.
- Ninth Circuit Revives HRDC Challenge to Washington DOC Mail Restrictions, Aug. 1, 2026. Qualified Immunity, Publications/Books, Due Process, Censorship, First Amendment, rights.

