Pa. prison puts inmates in solitary confinement for dreadlocks, despite religious beliefs on uncut hair

The Lebanon County Correctional Facility’s handbook says no inmate can have long hair unless it is worn in a ponytail or a bun. But for many black inmates, that rule doesn’t apply. Instead, they are placed in solitary confinement if they refuse to cut their hair.

One inmate currently in segregated housing says that policy violates his religious rights. Eric McGill, who is Black, wears his hair in dreadlocks. A practicing Rastafarian, McGill has refused to cut his hair since he was taken into custody more than a year ago. (Rastafarians do not cut their hair, ascribing to a strict reading of the Old Testament that forbids it.)

Source: Pa. prison puts inmates in solitary confinement for dreadlocks, despite religious beliefs on uncut hair - PennLive Patriot-News