U.S. District Court: ALCOHOL/DRUG.

• Position: Prisoners and prisons - Brief Article

Alexander v. Schenk, 118 F.Supp.2d 298 (N.D.N.Y. 2000). An inmate brought a [sections] 1983 action alleging that his First and Thirteenth Amendment rights were violated because he was compelled to participate in an alcohol and substance abuse program that had religious components. The district court found that the inmate was coerced into participating, in violation of the Establishment Clause. The court noted that the inmate objected to attending program meetings during his initial interview, constantly complained about his enrollment in the program, refused to sign the enrollment contract, raised issues of the program's religious aspects with prison officials, and was ordered to...