Pennsylvania Attorney General pushes for criminals to have religious freedom
The change comes after collaboration between the Office of Attorney General's Civil Rights Enforcement Section and Allegheny County officials to ensure respectful treatment of individuals wearing religious head coverings during the jail booking process. Under the new policy, the county will permit anyone to wear a religious head covering during their booking photos as long as their face and profile are not covered.
Head coverings include, but are not limited to, a Hijab, Tarmulke or Turban. Additionally, head covering searches must now happen without individuals of the opposite sex present.
The policy changes stem from an incident reported in October 2024. A Muslim woman was forced to remove her Hijab during her booking process, as the County had a policy allowing inmates to wear religious headgear, but with no formal written policy for the booking process.
The woman had filed a complaint with the Civil Rights Enforcement section, which then worked with the County to address the issue. The matter was handled by Deputy Attorney General Kevin Bendesky.
'This policy update is about upholding basic dignity while preserving religious freedoms for individuals,' Attorney General Sunday said. 'Many people wear religious head garments as a sincere tenet of their religious faith and no one should have to choose between their faith and their rights. I commend Allegheny County for working closely with my office to craft a policy that balances institutional safety with constitutional protections.'
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The policy now includes clear procedures for correctional staff to follow when an arrestee enters the facility with religious attire, with mandated communication with the chain of command and consultation with chaplaincy services in cases of uncertainty. Staff must file a report and notify supervisors immediately if a person feels as though their religious rights have been violated during the booking process.
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