Douglas Spies v. George v. Voinovich

Neutral prison regulations that are reasonably related to legitimate penological interests are permissible even if they infringe on an inmate’s religious practices. See O’Lone v. Shabazz, 482 U.S. 342, 107 S.Ct. 2400, 96 L.Ed.2d 282 (1987) (applying to religion claims the standards articulated in Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 107 S.Ct. 2254, 96 L.Ed.2d 64 (1987)). This standard allows prison officials wide latitude in evaluating their institutional needs, but it does not permit courts to abdicate their responsibility to protect religious freedom. While the majority acknowledges that the…