Nationwide — Damon Landor, a Rastafarian who had his locks cut by Louisiana prison officials against his religious beliefs, is now seeking damages. The Supreme Court agreed to hear his case about whether prisoners can get money for such religious rights violations.
In 2020, Landor was nearing the end of a five-month sentence for a drug offense when he was transferred to the Raymond Laborde Correctional Center. He has been following a religious vow not to cut his hair for nearly 20 years. When officers ordered him to shave his head, Landor showed them a court ruling that protected Rastafarians from forced haircuts, but his warning was ignored.
Officers handcuffed Landor to a chair and shaved his head. After he was released, he filed a lawsuit under a federal law known as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which protects the rights of incarcerated people to practice their faith.
According to NBC News, the key issue is whether that law allows people like Landor to seek money damages for violations of their religious rights.
Louisiana’s Attorney General agrees that Landor was mistreated and says the prison has since changed its rules to respect Rastafarian practices. However, she argues that Landor should not get money for his claim.
Lower courts ruled against Landor, saying money damages aren’t allowed in his case. But his lawyers point to a recent Supreme Court ruling that permitted similar damage claims under a closely related law with nearly identical wording.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments this fall and is expected to decide by next summer. This case could set an important precedent for religious rights in prisons.