Even though it does not make sense, cleanliness turns out to be important and is prioritized in prison. That said, a prisoner will receive punishment either from prison guards or fellow inmates if they do not perform self-care since they are deemed to have committed an offense.
Due to safety and protection factors, most correctional facilities set very strict rules for personal grooming. Then, is a haircut also part of the self-care that prisoners need to do? If so, how do the prisoners do it, and do prisons have barbershops? Okay, here’s everything you need to know about them!
Can Inmates Get Haircuts in Prison?
Of course, yes! Every inmate can get haircuts, even if they are in maximum-security prisons. However, the specific rules and procedures may vary depending on the prison’s policies and regulations, including the style and length of haircuts.
In most prisons, haircut styles are determined by the prison, and the inmates do not have the freedom to choose the styles of haircuts they want, as they do outside the prison, since it can remove their identity as prisoners. In some prisons, prisoners can get the haircut they want.
When it comes to the length of the haircuts, the warden is actually not allowed to restrict the length of the inmates’ hair while they can keep it neat and clean. However, this rule is not enforced in almost all prisons regarding contraband. There have been cases where some inmates tried to hide contraband in their long hair, so prisons in several states currently apply rules regarding the length of hair.
However, federal prisons have not established any protocols regarding inmates’ hair length. It’s just that they set a policy that inmates must be clean and tidy, including their hair, not about hair length. They confirmed that dirty hair posed a risk of bed bugs and lice outbreaks. To avoid that, inmates must maintain cleanliness while in prison.
Getting haircuts in prison is totally free. However, if inmates wish to dye their hair, they’ll be charged a fee by purchasing a “color ticket” in the canteen in advance, which costs $6.50. One ticket is only valid for short hair; if the inmate’s hair is long enough, they may need to buy one more ticket.
When Do the Inmates Get Haircuts in Prison?
Basically, prisons require inmates to get haircuts regularly; most prisons set a monthly haircut per inmate. In the United States, federal law requires inmates to get haircuts at least once a month since haircuts are very important in prison regarding the inmate’s self-esteem and personal grooming.
Before getting a haircut, inmates should comply with the protocols in place at the facility where they’re imprisoned. Of course, the haircut procedures in every prison will be different. It can also apply to the time for haircutting.
Typically, inmates must apply for an appointment with a barber at least every 90 days. However, getting a schedule usually takes at least a few weeks. Having to wait too long is why many inmates refuse to get their haircuts.
In addition, an inmate will be required to get haircuts if they have a special occasion, such as:
- If the inmate has to appear in court,
- If the inmate has a visit with their loved one,
- Before the execution process, allow contact between the skin and the electrodes.
Who Carries Out Haircuts on Inmates in Prison?
Usually, only certified barbers are allowed to perform haircuts on inmates, particularly when using chemicals to dye the inmate’s hair. The prison will contract them to visit the facility once a month or depend on an appointment.
In some facilities, however, the prison barbers could also be the prison officials who have expertise in hair cutting skills or inmates who are currently attending or have attended vocational training programs in cosmetology in prisons.
In fact, there are many prisons that offer vocational training to inmates; cosmetology is one of them. Due to licensing requirements, every inmate can take this course within two to three years of their release date. The classes will typically last around 18–24 months.
The cosmetology courses held in prison aim to ensure that inmates have new skills and a professional license that they can use to get a job when they’re out of prison. Interestingly! Inmates who already have their cosmetology license can get the opportunity to carry out haircuts on fellow inmates within the prison.
What is the Procedure for Getting Haircuts on Inmates in Prison?
After inmates require haircuts and the schedule is held, the prison staff will send a licensed barber to the prison. The barber will be carrying out haircuts on inmates in the prison’s barbershop. Then, inmates who have made an appointment can go to the barber.
In the maximum-security prison, however, inmates would not be allowed to go to the prison’s barbershop; they would ask a barber into a designated unit, which is heavily guarded and supervised for security purposes. And the prison guard will take inmates one-by-one for haircuts.
The tools used for haircuts should be clean and sterile, and these will be provided by the prison. However, most prisons often use substandard tools, which are not like walking into a salon outside of prison.
When carrying out haircuts on inmates, there will be a prison guard in the barbershop, and they are supervising every activity. Once the session ends, all tools will be enumerated and locked, including brushes, combs, and clips. However, the tools should be stored safely when not in use, and an inventory of them must be maintained.
The following are the rules and specific conditions regarding haircuts in most facilities that every prison has to meet:
- Long hair and any hairstyle may be permitted in some prisons, as long as the hair is kept combed, clean, and tidy.
- Dreadlocks and braided hair may be allowed, but they must be washed regularly.
- The warden has the right to refuse a prisoner’s hairstyle or hair length if it is related to security.
- If inmates have hairstyles that are constructed based on their religious beliefs, then the prison will allow them.
- The prison will prohibit inmates from cutting hair where there is a part of the hair missing on one side, including some symbols made through their hairstyles.
- If they are female inmates, prison officials may check their hair, allow them to bend over, and run their hands through it. This is to make sure they don’t hide contraband down there.
It’s important to note that rules of practice and procedures regarding haircuts in prison may differ from one correctional institution to another.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
