In Hawkins v. Gusman, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43637 (ED LA, April 20, 2011), a Louisiana federal district court adopted a federal magistrate's recommendation (2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43640, April 1, 2011) and dismissed an inmate's complaint that the Orleans Parish Prison offers no religious programs or communal services for inmates to attend.
On April 18, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari (2011 U.S. LEXIS 2997) in Riggins v. Vail, a 9th Circuit case (sub. nom. Riggins v. Clarke) that upheld a prison policy requiring an inmate's committed name be used first on incoming and outgoing mail before any other official or religious name, and which rejected plaintiff's claim that his rights were violated by the refusal to allow him to buy prayer oils. (See prior posting.)
In Couch v. Jabe, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43356 (WD VA, April 21, 2011) a Virginia federal district court upheld a prison's grooming policy over the objections of a Muslim inmate who wanted to wear a short beard for religious reasons. AP reports on the decision.
