Last year, SALDEF was contacted by Satnam Singh, a Sikh American currently incarcerated within the Vermont Department of Corrections, regarding a potential policy change that would have restricted Mr. Singh's right to maintain his turban.

On January 10, 2008, in response to SALDEF's inquiry, Robert Hofmann, Commissioner of the Vermont DOC formally accepted changes in policy to respect a prisoner religious rights. Among others, changes included recognizing the Khanda as a religious symbol, allowing prisoners to maintain their turbans in all areas of the institution, and an implementation of a redress process. [SALDEF Press Release]