Filed Date: Aug. 21, 2007
Closed Date: 2007
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On August 21, 2007, two inmates in federal custody filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York challenging the Federal Bureau of Prison's (BOP) "Standardized Chapel Library Project." Plaintiffs alleged that pursuant to this project, the Bureau banned and removed hundreds of religious books and materials not appearing on a pre-approved standardized list from chapel libraries across the country. Plaintiffs alleged that Bureau's actions were in response to a 2004 report by the Inspector General that examined the selection process of prison chaplains and warned of potential security risks created by inmates who were practicing extreme forms of religion, specifically Islam.
Plaintiffs' complaint alleged violations of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the Administrative Procedures Act and the First and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution. Plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as class certification.
On September 26, 2007, the New York Times reported that the Federal Bureau of Prison had decided to alter its planned course of action with respect to the "Standardized Chapel Library Project." On November 27, 2007, after receiving a letter from plaintiffs' counsel, the Court (Judge Laura Taylor Swain) granted a stipulation to dismiss the case and confirmed that the project had been canceled, following the filing of this class action suit.
Summary Authors
Dan Dalton (8/26/2007)
Maurice Youkanna (7/31/2014)
Swain, Laura Taylor (New York)
Klein, Solomon (New York)
Silverman, Moses (New York)
Feldman, Brian M. (New York)
Garcia, Michael J. (New York)
Swain, Laura Taylor (New York)
Last updated April 1, 2024, 3:07 a.m.
State / Territory: New York
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Aug. 21, 2007
Closing Date: 2007
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
All persons who are or will be incarcerated by any Federal Bureau of Prison institution that is subject to the Standardized Chapel Library Project, which was implemented on 2/7/07.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal
Inspector General, Department of Justice, Federal
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Religious Freedom Rest. Act/Religious Land Use and Inst. Persons Act (RFRA/RLUIPA)
Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Issues
General:
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Affected Sex or Gender:
Type of Facility: