California CDCR, Religious Discrimination, California 2023

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The U.S. Justice Department is taking on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) over its denial of religious accommodations for correctional officers of various faiths, including Sikhs and Muslims, who wear facial hair as an expression of their faith.

According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, CDCR generally prohibits correctional officers from wearing beards, forcing officers to shave their beards or lose their jobs.

“Our district is one of the most diverse in the country, with communities of many different faiths practicing customs that are central to their beliefs,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “The action brought today is an important use of the federal civil rights laws to protect this religious expression,” he added.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said, “Sikhs, Muslims and employees of other minority faiths should not be forced to choose between the practice of their faith and their jobs.”

The department’s action alleges that CDCR has repeatedly denied religious accommodation requests, forcing officers to violate core tenets of their faiths and suffer shame and humiliation among their religious communities.

CDCR implemented a revised facial hair policy last year, and since then, numerous officers have filed charges of religious discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII).

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.

Defendant: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)

Criminal Charges: Violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) for religious discrimination

City and State: Sacramento, California

Date: Current (ongoing action)

Sentence or Outcome: Ongoing action, seeking court order

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/us-justice-department-seeks-court-order-stop-cdcr-requiring-correctional-officers