Georgia Sheriffs’ Association President Comments on ACLU Religious Headwear Request
The head of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association is weighing in after the American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to sheriffs across the state. In the letter, the ACLU asked sheriffs to address the practice of requiring detained individuals to remove religious headgear and to send them their current policies on the matter.
The ACLU says it’s aware of three incidents where detained individuals in Georgia jails were required to remove religious headgear. And in its letter, the ACLU says unless the government can show the restriction is absolutely necessary and is for a very important purpose, the removal of the headwear violates the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000.
The letter cites a 9th circuit court of appeals case where the court said Orange County violated the act when a Muslim woman was forced to remove her headscarf while being held in a courthouse lockup. But Putnam County Sheriff and Georgia Sheriffs’ Association President Howard Sills says the ruling doesn’t apply.
“It’s only good in the 9th circuit, which is California not Georgia, We’re in the 11th circuit.”
Sills says the Association provides standards and best practices for jail operations but currently does not have a policy on the matter. In his own opinion, Sills says unless the religious headgear causes a health problem or security issue he wouldn’t restrict it in his jail.
The ACLU says the purpose of the letter is just to ensure the sheriffs are aware of what the law is and that individuals’ rights to religious liberty are being respected going forward.”
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