Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act

The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) is a federal law enacted in 2000 to protect religious exercise. It aims to prevent government entities from imposing substantial burdens on religious practices, particularly for individuals in institutions like prisons. RLUIPA is currently newsworthy due to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision. In a 6-3 ruling, the Court held that a Rastafarian former inmate could not sue individual prison officials for monetary damages after his dreadlocks were forcibly cut, violating his religious beliefs. The Court determined that RLUIPA does not allow such lawsuits against state employees in their individual capacities. This decision significantly impacts how individuals can seek recourse under RLUIPA when their religious freedom is infringed upon within correctional facilities, limiting the ability to hold individual officers accountable for violations.