Senator Cortese to Unveil Bill Protecting Inmate Religious Practices

WHAT: State Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) will introduce legislation to create a statewide policy on religious clothing, grooming, and headwear in state and local correctional and detention facilities.

California is one of the nation’s largest sources of prisoner complaints related to free exercise – underscoring the need for a uniform, statewide policy on the right to religious clothing and grooming by incarcerated individuals. Studies show that this form of religious exercise reduces violence and other negative behaviors in correctional facilities, and lowers recidivism.  

WHO: Senator Cortese will be joined by Nazeehah Khan, Policy and Government Affairs Manager with the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and Shaykh Rami Nsour, Founding Director of the Tayba Foundation, and others.

WHEN: Monday, February 6, from 10:00a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

WHERE: State Capitol, West Steps; the News Conference will also be livestreamed at https://sd15.senate.ca.gov/ and facebook.com/davecortesegov

RSVP: Media can RSVP to allen.young@sen.ca.gov. We ask that media RSVP in advance of the event.