Attorney General Dave Sunday has announced a new policy at the Allegheny County Bureau of Corrections aimed at enhancing religious accommodations for arrestees. This update follows collaboration between the Office of Attorney General’s Civil Rights Enforcement Section and Allegheny County officials to ensure respectful treatment for individuals wearing religious head coverings during the jail booking process.
The revised policy allows arrestees to wear religious head coverings, such as Hijabs, Yarmulkes, and Turbans, while taking their booking photo, provided that these do not obstruct their face and profile. Additionally, searches involving head coverings must be conducted without individuals of the opposite sex present.
“This policy update is about upholding basic dignity while preserving religious freedoms for individuals,” said Attorney General Sunday. “Many people wear religious head garments as a sincere tenet of their religious faith and no one should have to choose between their faith and their rights. I commend Allegheny County for working closely with my office to craft a policy that balances institutional safety with constitutional protections.”
Trevor Wingard, Warden of the Allegheny County Jail, stated: “We aspire to treat all of our incarcerated residents with dignity and respect, and we are pleased to have worked with the Office of the Attorney General to craft this guidance.”
The need for this policy arose from an incident in October 2024 when a Muslim woman was required to remove her Hijab during booking. Although inmates were allowed to wear religious headgear within the facility, there was no formal written policy for the booking process at that time. The woman filed a complaint with the Office of Attorney General’s Civil Rights Enforcement Section, prompting action from both parties involved.
Under the new guidelines, correctional staff will follow specific procedures when an arrestee enters with religious attire. The protocol includes communication with command chains and chaplaincy services in cases where uncertainty arises. If someone believes their religious rights have been violated during booking, staff must report it immediately and notify supervisors.
This matter was overseen by Deputy Attorney General Kevin Bendesky under Chief Deputy Corbett Anderson's direction within the Civil Rights Enforcement Section.