Opinion ID: 17015
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Right to Exercise Religion

Text: 9 Chriceol argues that prison officials at WCC violated his rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. Specifically, Chriceol contends the WCC mail policy of withholding mail from organizations such as Aryan Nations and CJCC infringes on his rights to practice his religion. The prison officials, in turn, argue Chriceol's withheld mail advocated racial violence and hatred. Thus, the prison officials contend the mail policy is legitimately related to ensuring the safety of prisoners and employees. 10 This court has been faced with other civil rights claims relating to infringements on prisoners' rights to free exercise of religion. See, e.g, Eason v. Thaler, 73 F.3d 1322 (5th Cir.1996) (inclusion of pork in meals not violation of prisoner's right to practice his religion where prison officials did not know affiliation with muslim faith); Hicks v. Garner, 69 F.3d 22 (5th Cir.1995) (prison grooming regulations rationally related to penological goals and did not violate prisoner's right to exercise his religion); Matthews v. Morales, 23 F.3d 118 (5th Cir.1994) (statute prohibiting inmate from changing his name had logical connection to legitimate government interest and did not violate inmate's right to free exercise of religion). This Court, however, has not faced the issue of whether a prison mail policy that withholds potential violence producing materials violates an inmate's right to exercise his religion. 11 Other circuits have considered the extent to which prisons can withhold materials sent their inmates. The Ninth Circuit has held that a total ban on literature advocating racial purity cannot be constitutionally banned as rationally related to rehabilitation. McCabe v. Arave, 827 F.2d 634, 638 (9th Cir.1987). The McCabe court, however, did recognize that literature advocating violence or illegal activity could be banned. See id. See also Murphy v. Missouri, 814 F.2d 1252, 1256-57 (8th Cir.1987) (holding a total ban on Aryan Nation materials too restrictive, but stating a policy restricting materials that advocate violence or that are racially inflammatory would be valid); Winburn v. Bologna, 979 F.Supp. 531, 534 (W.D.Mich.1997) (prison mail policy withholding material that promotes violence and racial supremacy reasonable and valid); Thomas v. United States Secretary of Defense, 730 F.Supp. 362 (D.Kan.1990) (regulation rejecting mail that communicates information designed to encourage prisoners to disrupt institution by strikes, riots, racial or religious hatred does not violate First Amendment). This Court agrees with the reasoning of the other Circuits and holds that a prison mail policy restricting access to potential violence producing materials is valid. 12 In O'Lone v. Estate of Shabazz, 482 U.S. 342, 107 S.Ct. 2400, 96 L.Ed.2d 282 (1987), the Supreme Court established the test for evaluating the constitutionality of regulations that infringe on prisoners' First Amendment Rights. [W]hen a prison regulation impinges on inmates' constitutional rights, the regulation is valid if it is reasonably related to legitimate penological interests. O'Lone, 482 U.S. at 349, 107 S.Ct. 2400. To determine whether a challenged regulation is valid, we are directed to four factors relevant for determining whether a challenged regulation is valid: (1) whether the regulation has a logical connection to the legitimate government interests invoked to justify it; (2) whether there are alternative means of exercising the rights that remain open to the inmates; (3) the impact that accommodation of the asserted constitutional rights will have on other inmates, guards, and prison resources; and (4) the presence or absence of ready alternatives that fully accommodate the prisoner's rights at de minimus cost to valid penological interests. See O'Lone 482 U.S. at 350-52, 107 S.Ct. 2400 (citing Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89-90, 107 S.Ct. 2254, 96 L.Ed.2d 64 (1987)). 13 Applying the Turner factors, as elaborated in O'Lone, WCC's policy of withholding mail that advocates racial, religious, or national hatred that creates a serious danger of violence is valid. First, there is a logical connection between WCC's policy and the legitimate government interest to justify it. The purpose of the rule is to eliminate potential threats to the security or order of the facility. Clearly, this is a legitimate interest. See, e.g., Pell v. Procunier, 417 U.S. 817, 823, 94 S.Ct. 2800, 41 L.Ed.2d 495 (1974) ([C]entral to all other corrections goals is the institutional consideration of internal security within the corrections facilities themselves.) 14 The second factor, alternative means of exercising the right, also weighs in favor of the prison officials. Chriceol stated in his affidavit that the material from the Aryan Nations and CJCC were only a part of the publications/materials/letters he received. Moreover, Chriceol acknowledged in his complaint that he was in possession of many different religious, political, and nationalist publications. There is no evidence the prison officials have withheld other religious material that would preclude him from exercising his right to free exercise of religion. 15 Third, we must consider the impact the accommodation of Chriceol's asserted rights will have on other inmates, guards, and prison resources. The prison officials contend the publications, a majority of which were from white supremacist groups, encouraged hatred and violence. The magistrate judge found the materials were incendiary to the point of being almost certain to cause interracial violence and nearly all of them openly advocate violence or other illegal activities. The prison officials could legitimately conclude that accommodating Chriceol's requests for materials that advocate violence and hatred could cause violence. The third factor weighs in favor of the prison officials. 16 Finally, this Court must consider the possibility of alternatives. [I]f an inmate claimant can point to an alternative that fully accommodates the prisoner's rights at de minimus cost to valid penological interests, a court may consider that as evidence that the regulation does not satisfy the reasonable relationship standard. Turner, 482 U.S. at 91, 107 S.Ct. 2254. Chriceol has not directed this Court to any alternatives. Further, there are no easy alternatives to barring potential violence producing materials. For example, allowing Chriceol to review these materials, in the presence of security, would cause more than a de minimus cost in terms of the necessary security measures. The fourth factor also weighs in favor of the prison officials. 17 Applying Turner, the WCC mail policy did not violate Chriceol's rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.