Court Says Atheist Inmate’s Religious Rights Were Not Burdened By Missouri Prison System

[rug]

By DAN MARGOLIES • 2 HOURS AGO

Does a prison’s failure to regard atheism as a “religious preference” violate the Constitution?

That’s the question raised by a former Missouri prisoner, who contended the failure of the Missouri Department of Corrections (MDOC) to list “atheist” on prison intake forms violated his First Amendment rights.

The case was filed in federal court in Kansas City more than four-and-a-half years ago by Randall Jackson, a persistent DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) offender who served prison terms from 2006-08 and again from 2010-2014.

Jackson argued that MDOC’s failure to list “atheist” on intake forms was a substantial burden on his ability to exercise his religion. He also argued that the prison system violated his rights by conditioning early prisoner release on inmates’ participation in Alcoholics Anonymous-type programs, which require belief in a higher power.

http://kcur.org/post/court-says-atheist-inmate-s-religious-rights-were-not-burdened-missouri-prison-system#stream/0

The 40 page decision:

http://courtweb.pamd.uscourts.gov/courtwebsearch/mowd/y2jR3VFUlI.pdf#xml=http://courtweb.pamd.uscourts.gov/courtweb/PDFResult.aspx

[unblock]

1. coercing a belief in god? no problem.

[Angry Dragon]

2. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Leontius]

3. Well his ass was in prison so I guess there was a "higher power" he answered to.