Opinion ID: 2787969
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Prayer Shawl

Text: Sometime before August 2010, Stavenjord requested authorization to purchase a prayer shawl. This request was denied. Stavenjord appealed to Lyden, arguing that, because the Department’s policies and procedures expressly permit the use of “prayer shawls during religious activity,” it was unreasonable to refuse to allow Stavenjord to purchase a shawl. Lyden affirmed the denial of his request, writing: Although policy specifically references the allowable use of prayer shawls, policy also extends discretionary authority to the superintendent [of the prison] to restrict their use along with other religious activities. As a result, no violation is found. This was the Department’s final action concerning Stavenjord’s request for a prayer shawl.