Phillips v. Coughlin

OPINION AND ORDER

CONNER, District Judge:

Plaintiff Trevor Lloyd Phillips (“Phillips”), an inmate in the custody of the New York State Department of Correctional Services (“DOCS”), commenced the instant action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to challenge the constitutionality, as applied to him, of DOCS Directive # 4914, which requires inter alia that every new male inmate receive one haircut and shave for purposes of an initial identification photograph. 1 Plaintiff, a Rastafarian, maintains that his religious beliefs forbid him from allowing his beard to be shaved or his locks to be cut, and…