Rawlins

MEMORANDUM

Daniel Patrick Rawlins (Rawlins) was an inmate in the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADOC) from January 16, 1996 to September 26, 1997. While incarcerated, Rawlins requested accommodation for his faith as a New Covenant Hebrew, accommodation which included permission not to work on Sabbaths, no unclean foods, unleavened bread during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and food on the Sabbath *447 that was prepared on a non-Sabbath. ADOC refused to accommodate Rawlins. On August 12, 1996 Rawlins filed a Complaint against ADOC officials for violation of his civil rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 .

Rawlins asserts that his constitutional right to the free exercise of religion was violated when ADOC burdened the practice of his religion by preventing him from engaging in conduct mandated by his faith, without showing justification reasonably related to legitimate penological interests. Freeman v. Arpaio, 125 F.3d 732, 736 (9th Cir.1997) (citing Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89 , 107 S.Ct. 2254 , 96 L.Ed.2d 64 (1987)).

However, “government officials performing discretionary functions generally are shielded from liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct…