In re Gregory Rhoades
In this appeal, officials of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (the Department) challenge the trial court's order granting a petition for writ of habeas corpus filed by Gregory L. Rhoades, who is a Native American prisoner incarcerated at Calipatria State Prison (Calipatria).In granting Rhoades's petition, the trial court concluded that the prohibition on the use of straight tobacco during prisoners'Native American religious ceremonies violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA)(42 U.S.C. § 2000ccet seq.)andit ordered the California Department of Corrections to "formulate and implement policies permitting and reasonably regulating the possession and use of straight tobacco" during those ceremonies.
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