Travis County Sheriff's Office in Texas Adopts New Hijab Policy for detainees

The Travis County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) in Texas has revisited and revised its policies concerning the religious attire of Muslim female detainees. These updates now permit women to keep their hijabs during booking photographs and the intake process. Also incorporated within the policy changes are the enforcement of privacy measures throughout the search process and the provision of long-sleeved clothing for religious observance.
 

Engaged by 'anti-genocide' student protests in April, where rights were reportedly denied, the Council on American-Islamic Relations Texas-Austin (CAIR-Austin) was instrumental in lobbying for these alterations, advocating for constitutional rights, as mentioned in a statement on CAIR's official website.

Enacting policy changes doesn't occur in isolation. This was underscored by "We have been in contact with the sheriff’s office and the chaplaincy leadership in Travis County since May to enhance understanding of Islam and build mutual respect," CAIR-Austin Operations Manager Shaimaa Zayan told KXAN. However, the promise for a broader institutional reform lingers, as CAIR-Austin's stance reflects the necessity of continued dialogues to achieve full freedom of religious expression.