Summary
finding that the policy requiring inmates to submit to the PPD test or face confinement for one year is reasonably related to the legitimate penological interest
Summary of this case from Cannon v. MoteOpinion
November 2, 2000.
Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court (Bradley, J.), entered June 9, 1999 in Ulster County, which dismissed petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78, to review a determination of respondent placing petitioner in medical keeplock.
Rudolph Rossi, Pine City, appellant in person.
Eliot Spitzer, Attorney-General (Julie S. Mereson of counsel), Albany, for respondent.
Before: Mercure, J.P., Spain, Carpinello, Graffeo and Mugglin, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Petitioner, an inmate confined to Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Ulster County, was required to submit to a purified protein derivative test (hereinafter PPD test) as part of a mandatory screening program to identify inmates with latent forms of tuberculosis. Petitioner, a follower of the Rastafarian religion, objected to the protein injection required by the PPD test on religious grounds and was placed in medical keeplock until he either submitted to the PPD test or showed no active signs of tuberculosis on chest X rays for a period of one year. After his grievance was denied, petitioner commenced this proceeding alleging,inter alia, that the determination placing him in medical keeplock violates his free exercise rights under the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution. Supreme Court dismissed the petition and petitioner now appeals.
We affirm. Initially, petitioner's claim that the PPD test violates the tenets of the Rastafarian religion was refuted by the affidavit of a Rastafarian church official who explained to petitioner that undergoing the PPD test was not contrary to his religious beliefs. In any event, upon review of the relevant factors, we conclude that the policy requiring inmates to submit to the PPD test or face confinement in medical keeplock for a period of one year is reasonably related to the legitimate penological interest in preventing the spread of tuberculosis within the prison system by restricting exposure to inmates who refuse to submit to tuberculosis testing during the one-year period that active symptoms of the disease are most likely to develop (see generally, Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89; Matter of Bunny v. Coughlin, 187 A.D.2d 119,appeal dismissed 82 N.Y.2d 679; Matter of Malik v. Coughlin, 154 A.D.2d 135; Matter of Bailey v. Goord, 174 Misc.2d 632, 635-636). Although petitioner contends that a viable alternative to the PPD test exists, the record reveals that the suggested alternative does not detect tuberculosis in its latent stages and, therefore, severely compromises the valid institutional goal of reducing contagion of the disease (see generally, Matter of Bailey v. Goord, supra, at 635-636). Finally, to the extent that petitioner relies upon Jolly v. Coughlin ( 76 F.3d 468) for the proposition that he is entitled to a religious exemption from the PPD test, we need only note that the Jolly case was decided pursuant to a statutory scheme which was subsequently declared unconstitutional (see,City of Boerne v. Flores, 521 U.S. 507).
Petitioner's remaining contentions have been reviewed and rejected.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, without costs.