RICHMOND, Va. – Following a lawsuit over religious rights, Virginia inmates will soon be able to grow up to a fourth of an inch long beards.
The state’s grooming policy generally bans beards and hair longer than collar length for male inmates, but William R. Couch wants to regrow his in keeping with his faith, according to Hampton Roads. He was forced to shave it when he started serving multiple life terms for rape and other convictions.
Other inmates have attempted to challenge the policy and were held in segregation for refusing to cut their hair for religious reasons.
Couch’s lawsuit was first dismissed by a federal judge in 2011, but a federal appeals court revived it, saying that federal law protecting prisoner’s’ religious rights requires the government to use “the least restrictive means” to further its interest in prison security.
The new policy states that the beard must cover the entire facial hair area and contain no shapes or designs, so no goatees will be allowed. The barbershop will be equipped with a ¼-inch beard trimmer to be used instead of rulers to determine compliance.