Opinion ID: 152022
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Rashemma Moss

Text: Rashemma Moss began working at the prison in 2002 as a correctional officer. As a correctional officer, Moss is the only GEO employee involved in this suit who had to wear a correctional officer uniform, had keys to the facility, regularly worked in the secured areas of the prison with inmates, and responded to use of force incidents. JA 155. Moss did not wear a khimar to her interview, or during the first few years of her employment with GEO, as she was not yet a practicing Muslim. JA 151. In July of 2005, Moss took her shahada, thereby becoming a full-fledged member of the Islamic faith. JA 151. In lieu of wearing an overgarment, she exchanged her correctional officer uniform for a larger size to suffice for not showing [her] shape so it wouldn't be tight-fitting. JA 158. To cover her hair in accordance with her religion, Moss began wearing an underscarf, which she described as a triangle-shaped piece of fabric that is tie[d] around [one's] head, under the hat that was issued to her as part of her uniform. JA 156. Moss testified that at that time, underscarfs was [sic] already being worn, she had already worn one to work on previous occasions and, at that time, it was common practice [among prison employees] to wear things on [their] head[s], not necessarily an underscarf, but a hat, a scarf, a headband. JA 157. The record indicates that events stemming from Moss' conversion to Islam prompted the change in the enforcement of the dress code. Moss asked her union representatives whether there was any policy preventing her from wearing a head covering in accordance with her faith and was told that there was not. AR 157. However, Moss decided that it would be best to confirm this with her supervisors at the prison, so in August of 2005, she wrote a letter to the chief of security informing him that [she] was Muslim, [she] had [taken] her shahada, on what date, what the requirements were that was [sic] stipulated on [her] by [her] religion, and what I have to do. AR 157. Repeatedly receiving no response, she continued informing the next person in the chain of command, eventually writing Warden Nardolillo on October 24, 2005.