- The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a Rastafari man, Damon Landor, cannot sue Louisiana prison officials for monetary damages after they forcibly cut his dreadlocks , which violated his religious beliefs.
- The justices stated that the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), a federal law designed to protect inmates ' religious rights, does not permit lawsuits for money damages, even when rights are violated.
- Landor's dreadlocks were cut during his five-month prison term in 2020 at the Raymond Laborde Correctional Center, despite him carrying an appeals court ruling that affirmed the protection of religious prisoners ' dreadlocks.
- Lower courts had previously dismissed Landor's case, and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, while lamenting his treatment, concluded that RLUIPA does not allow for holding prison officials liable for damages.
- The Justice Department had sided with Landor in this case, and Louisiana has since amended its prison grooming policy to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
IN FULL
Rastafari man can’t sue Louisiana prison officials who cut his dreadlocks, Supreme Court rules
